The Seville Statement on Violence is a document that was adopted by a group of scientists at the UNESCO symposium "Violence and Civilization" held in Seville, Spain in 1986. It serves as a comprehensive dictionary definition of the term, providing a scientific and global perspective on the nature of violence.
The statement defines violence as "the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation." It acknowledges that violence exists across various contexts and forms, including interpersonal violence, societal violence, and institutional violence.
The Seville Statement emphasizes that violence is not a biological or genetic trait inherent to human beings, but rather a learned behavior influenced by social, cultural, economic, and political factors. It rejects any claims that violence is an unavoidable aspect of human nature or an instinct, asserting that it is instead a consequence of systemic factors and therefore can be prevented.
Furthermore, the statement highlights the importance of promoting education, understanding, and cooperation in order to reduce violence. It advocates for the dissemination of scientific knowledge on the causes and consequences of violence, with the aim of developing strategies that promote peace, justice, and sustainable development.
In summary, the Seville Statement on Violence provides a thorough dictionary definition of violence, attributing it to social factors rather than inherent human nature, and underscores the necessity of scientific understanding to prevent violence and promote peaceful societies.
