Each year the International Day of Peace is celebrated on 21 September around the

world. This day was first designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981

by resolution 36/67, with the objectives subsequently refined in 2001 by GA

resolution 55/282. The Day provides an opportunity for each and every one of us to

reflect how best to take action in building the defenses and foundations for peace, as

we are enjoined by UNESCO’s Constitution.

Working in the aftermath of the Second World War, UNESCO's founding members

resolved to construct an organization whose ultimate goal is to "build the defenses of

peace in the minds of men since it is in the minds of men that wars begin".

Accordingly, UNESCO has been given the mandate to promote peace and security

through international cooperation in the areas of education, culture, the sciences and

communication and information.

Today, the need for peace is more relevant than ever before. We are assailed almost

daily by news of violence that has shaken some part of our globalized world. As we

bear witness to such events causing loss of life, suffering, and destruction, we must

rededicate ourselves to help end such cycles of violence. We must do everything in

our power to help ensure that the grief caused by such developments shall not

jeopardize the future.

How can there be a transformation from a culture of war and violence to a culture of

peace and non-violence? The culture of peace is contingent upon the recognition of

the respect of cultural and religious differences, because it is these differences that

reflect the richness and diversity of the human race. Acknowledging the right to be

different presupposes, firstly, that dialogue be adopted to further mutual knowledge

and mutual understanding. The peace that we hope to see established one day

between nations, peoples, individuals and communities is the paramount frame of

reference that must be firmly rooted within each and everyone of us.

The seeds of peace are planted through quality education for all. It is an education

that promotes the values of tolerance, justice, equality, mutual understanding and

peaceful co-existence. In that, quality education is one of the most powerful tools in

conquering the evils of ignorance and hate. Through quality education, we can

develop a fuller awareness and a better acquaintance with other civilizations and

learn to respect and appreciate our cultural and religious differences. This in itself will

allow us to approach each other in a different manner, instead of resolving conflicts

with violence, we will be inspired instead to turn to dialogue and peaceful negotiation.

Tackling the surging trends of violence among youth in various regions will be a

particular challenge.

In cooperation with Member States, UNESCO is working to promote quality

education for all by revisiting and revising educational content and reorienting and

training teachers so that education encompasses all elements of human

development: values, knowledge, attitudes and skills – as well as the capacities for

the non-violent resolution of conflicts. The Organization also has the special

responsibility, given to it by the United Nations General Assembly, of leading the

International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the

World (2001-2010) by coordinating activities to instil a culture of peace in cooperation

with governments, other United Nations agencies and programmes, and civil society.

UNESCO will award on the International Day of Peace in a special ceremony the

2006 Prize for Peace Education to Mr Christopher Gregory Weeramantry (Sri Lanka)

in recognition of his ongoing commitment and work in support of the concept and

culture of peace. As Chairman of the Weeramantry International Centre for Peace

Education and Research (WICPER), which he founded in 2001, he has contributed to

the promotion of peace education, human rights, intercultural education, social

integration, interfaith understanding, environmental protection, international law,

disarmament and sustainable development.

The Fundación para la Reconciliación (Colombia) will receive a Special Mention

under the Prize for its efforts in introducing the concept of "emotional literacy" as a

means of promoting reconciliation and forgiveness. Created in 2001, the Fundación

para la Reconciliación aims to promote the theory and practice of forgiveness and

reconciliation. It has also been promoting the project for a charter that would allow for

the creation of a global system of reconciliation, especially among peasants from

Colombia's poorest areas.

These are two outstanding examples of people working to alert public opinion and

mobilize the conscience of humanity in the cause of peace. However, we must not

lose sight of the notion that we are all agents of peace, and as such we all have an

important role to play in building and nurturing peace. I call on the entire UNESCO

community – Member States, National Commissions, non-governmental

organisations, the media and staff - to seize the opportunity of the International Day

of Peace to solemnly re-commit ourselves to making a peaceful world a reality.