NEW YORK, Sep 21 (IPS) – International Day of Peace Education Statement Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine SherifThe longing for peace transcends time, place and religion. Based on justice, human rights and universal values defined in the UN Charter, the culture of peace unites us all in our one human project. We can only coexist with such a world order.
On today’s International Day of Peace, we call on world leaders to end conflict and embrace the culture of peace as enshrined in the UN Charter and related international law.
As the UN General Assembly stated in the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace 20 years ago, this must include: “Respect for life, human rights and fundamental freedoms; promotion of non-violence through education, dialogue. and cooperation; commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and adherence to freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, restraint, restraint and cooperation, conflict resolution, cultural differences, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and between nations.
Teaching peace begins at home and continues at school throughout the school years. This happens during the formative years of a child learning about identity, ethics, values, conscience, courage and compassion. Wherever there has been a failure to pass on to children the responsibility of peace, the world is in flux. This is a global failure that has no geographic boundaries.
Today, we live in a world of unprecedented violence, conflict and chaos. All the real and heartfelt commitments made in 1945 in the UN Charter seem to be disappearing. Children and youth are the most vulnerable, the least protected, and the most affected. They are struggling.
Global conflicts killed three times more children in 2023 than the year before, according to the United Nations. The number of forcibly displaced people reached an unprecedented number of millions by May 2024.
“In 2023, the United Nations confirmed a record 32,990 violations against 22,557 children in 26 conflict zones, which is a 35% increase over the previous year,” according to the latest UN analysis.
We can end this violation and invest in constructive cooperation around the world. We can use our resources for education, not wars. In classrooms around the world, girls and boys who have endured the ravages of war can rebuild their hopes and lives. Cultivating a culture of peace is possible. Financial resources are available. How we use them is our choice.
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