1. Conflicts are a normal part of everyday life and they can and should be resolved nonviolently.
Most differences can be resolved nonviolently. It is vital to enlarge the repertoire of nonviolent options, and exhaust them before contemplating the use of force. The nonviolent resolution of conflict and nonviolent political action in resistance to oppression are effective, sustainable and constructive processes that need to be nurtured.
2. We believe in integrated, systemic approaches to conflict transformation and peacebuilding.
This means working at multiple levels from the top down, bottom up and horizontally with a wide variety of political and civil society actors in order to promote ripe conditions for peace.
3. We believe in the primacy of peoples in the resolution of conflict.
We recognise the capacities of people engaged in conflict to diagnose and resolve their own conflicts. To this end we see conflict transformation as understanding and strengthening the capacities of local actors and organisations to solve their own problems while contributing to building stable peace within their own societies.
4. We are motivated primarily by the alleviation of human suffering.
Our engagement in situations of violent conflict (or potential conflict) is driven principally by concern for societies and peoples at risk from such conflicts. We strive to protect the right to life by reducing and removing threats to it (e.g. weapons of mass and minor destruction), by addressing the root causes of conflicts, and working for their peaceful and just transformation.
5. In order to expand our impact and effectiveness we choose to work in partnership with academic, civil society, governmental and multilateral actors and organisations in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.
This means working alongside individuals and organisations committed to the creation of a more peaceful world. We choose to do this in company with others and by generating safe spaces for dialogue that will develop mutual understanding and creative responses to conflict.
6. We are committed to promoting and improving the capacity, effectiveness and legitimacy of regional and global organisations dedicated to peace.
This means working to develop multilateral regional peace and security mechanisms while enhancing the power and effectiveness of the United Nations.
7. Our research and practice is guided by a concern for excellence, evidence and facts.
The Toda Peace Institute wishes to ensure that all its research and practice work is of the highest quality. This means that it will be data driven, analytically sound and relevant to the needs of researchers, policy makers and peacebuilding practitioners.
8. We are committed to the development of innovative and creative solutions to "old" and persistent problems.
This means working across cultural, gender, ethnic and political lines to draw on the wisdom of all to generate novel options and solutions to both direct and indirect violence.
9. In all of this work we commit ourselves to long-term solutions to presenting problems.
This means making long-term commitments and partnerships and acting in collaboration and solidarity with those who are at risk of or suffering from violence.
10. The values that guide this work are non-sectarian and humanitarian coupled with a deep respect for the diversity and dignity of all human beings. Peace will never be established without respect for and high levels of trust and collaboration with partners and those in need.
Our social and political impact and effectiveness will be enhanced with high levels of empathetic concern for and consultation with others. We also wish to ensure that we are accountable and responsible to ourselves and others for the consequences of our actions. To this end the Toda Peace Institute wishes to be known as an effective learning organisation, evaluating its programmes on a regular basis, monitoring their impact and effectiveness, and benchmarking itself against organisations sharing similar goals.