The Culture of Peace
The Culture of Peace
The Culture of Peace
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the culture
of peace
To d a y , m o r e t h a n e v e r ,
a culture of peace
The United Nations and UNESCO were founded to bring about a world at
peace. Peace is more than an absence of war. It means justice and equity
for all as the basis for living together in harmony and free from violence,
now, but even more so for our children and succeeding generations. The
General Assembly has designated 20012010 as the International Decade
for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.
This decade will provide a unique opportunity to translate solemn
declarations and good intentions into reality. We always must renew our
shared pledge to attain this goal: a world at peace with itself in a new
century and a new millennium.
By focusing on our children, we implicitly pledge ourselves to education
for all, a concept that combines formal and non-formal education and
seeks to promote quality basic education that is grounded upon the
universal values and practice of a culture of peace and non-violence.
Such a task must engage every one of our fellow citizens in all
dimensions of life: in schools, workplaces, the home; at the national and
at the community levels; in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Above all, children themselves must be empowered to become actors,
not mere spectators, in shaping their own visions and futures. . . .
Kochiro Matsuura
1992
1994
The first International Forum on the Culture of Peace is held in San Salvador
(El Salvador).
1995
The 28th General Conference of UNESCO introduces the concept of Culture of Peace
in the Medium-Term Strategy for 19962001 (28 C/4).
19962001
1997
1998
At its 53rd session, the United Nations General Assembly (resolution A/53/25) decides
to proclaim the decade of 20012010 International Decade for a Culture of Peace and
Non-Violence for the Children of the World, based on a proposal made by Nobel Peace
Prize laureates. The UNESCO Executive Board, meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, at its
155th session in November 1998, adopts the Tashkent Declaration on the culture of
peace and UNESCOs action in Member States.
1999
The United Nations General Assembly adopts the Declaration and Programme of Action
on a Culture of Peace (resolution A/53/243) defining eight action areas (see p. 5) to be
linked through the concept of a culture of peace and non-violence into a single coherent
approach.
2000
Observation of the International Year for the Culture of Peace as decided by the United
Nations General Assembly, with UNESCO designated as Focal Point:
Actions for a culture of peace in the eight action areas defined by the United Nations
were promoted through a variety of events and long-term projects.
Communication and information tools were developed for better interaction, such as
the establishment of the interactive culture of peace website, guidelines for Focal
Points for the implementation of the International Year, along with a logo,
communications tools and materials, and other products.
The result of the International Year for the Culture of Peace was the emergence of a global
movement involving thousands of national and local organizations and more than 75 million
individuals, along with the National Commissions for UNESCO, UNESCOs Field Offices and
some 200 international NGOs.
The idea to use the term culture of peace was inspired by an educational initiative called
Cultura de paz developed in Peru (1986), and by the Seville Statement on Violence (1986)
adopted by scientists from around the world, which stated that war is not a fatality determined
by genes, violent brains, human nature or instincts, but is rather a social invention.
Therefore, the same species that invented war is capable of inventing peace.
Download the Seville Statement: www.unesco.org/cpp/uk/declarations/seville.pdf
In many regions of the world, peace remains fragile and tenuous. To help preserve peace
in all its dimensions thus remains an abiding challenge for the international community in
general and UNESCO in particular. It is a vision embedded in the Organizations Constitution.
This entails building trust and understanding among and between different cultures and
civilizations, as well as nations, communities and individuals, especially in situations of acute
conflict and in post-conflict conditions. The defence of peace starts in the minds of men and
women who should be imbued with hope for the future, especially for succeeding generations.
20012010
D. Roger/UNESCO
Launch of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the
Children of the World, with UNESCO as lead agency, involving the United Nations system,
Member States and civil society through partnerships and information exchange. Each of
the ten years of the Decade will be marked with a different priority theme; the first five
have already been defined in the context of a particular United Nations event:
2001: understanding, tolerance and solidarity, in the context of the Year of Dialogue
among Civilizations
2002: sustainable economic and social development, in the context of the World
Summit on Sustainable Development, the International Year of Ecotourism and the
United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage
2003: participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge,
in the context of the World Summit on the Information Society
2004: respect for human rights, in the context of the conclusion of the United Nations
Decade for Human Rights Education
2005: equality between women and men, in the context of the Fourth World Conference
on Women (Beijing, 1995)
F
1
Fostering a culture of peace through education by promoting education for all, focusing
3
4
Promoting respect for all human rights by distributing the Universal Declaration of Human
Supporting participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge by
means of such actions as support for independent media in the promotion of a culture of peace;
effective use of media and mass communications; measures to address the issue of violence in
the media; knowledge and information sharing through new technologies . . .
Promoting international peace and security through action such as the promotion of general
especially on girls; revising curricula to promote the qualitative values, attitudes and behaviour
inherent in a culture of peace; training for conflict prevention and resolution, dialogue,
consensus-building and active non-violence . . .
poverty; focusing on the special needs of children and women; working towards environmental
sustainability; fostering national and international co-operation to reduce economic and social
inequalities . . .
Rights at all levels and fully implementing international instruments on human rights . . .
Ensuring equality between women and men by integrating a gender perspective and
promoting equality in economic, social and political decision-making; eliminating all forms of
discrimination and violence against women; supporting and aiding women in crisis situations
resulting from war and all other forms of violence . . .
promote democratic principles and practices; establishing and strengthening national institutions
and processes that promote and sustain democracy . . .
civilizations; actions in favour of vulnerable groups, migrants, refugees and displaced persons,
indigenous people and traditional groups; respect for difference and cultural diversity . . .
www.unesco.org/cp
This central website provides information on:
253 Focal points in 196 countries
1,976 Actors within the global movement:
233 international organizations
1,743 national/local organizations
3,837 Messengers for Manifesto 2000 (individuals)
75,222,315 Signatures collected for Manifesto 2000
811 Actions for a culture of peace
From www.unesco.org/cp, 5 May 2002
Culture of Peace in
UNESCOs
Non-Violence
Education
programme is a follow-up to
the Interregional Project for a
Culture of Peace and Non-Violence
in Educational Institutions
launched by the Sintra Plan of
Action in 1996, and it is a vital
component of the
Internation Decade.
Activities include a
series of training
courses in
mediation and
non-violent conflict
resolution in and out of school and
preparatory meetings and contacts with
national authorities in various regions
(Central Europe, Middle East, Africa), as
well as numerous activities aimed at
children and youth and posted on our
website, including games and building a
peace kite. Best Practices on Conflict
Resolution In and Out of School has been
published with contributions from UNESCOs
partners (associations, peace educators,
teachers) along with other reference books,
and is being included in a non-violence
education kit for teachers and trainers.
www.unesco.org/education/educprog/ecf/
html/eng.htm
Education (ED/PEQ/VAL)
www.unesco.org/education/nved/index.html
UNESCOs programmes
www.unesco.org/human_rights/peaceint.html
www.unesco.org//education/asp/index.shtml
Culture of Peace in
D. Roger/UNESCO
10
www.unesco.org/mab/
UNESCOs programmes
www.unesco.org/education/ste/projects/
semep/semep.shtml
www.unesco.org/culture/crafts
11
Culture of Peace in
Promoting respect
for all human rights . . .
. . . by distributing the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights at all levels
and fully implementing international
instruments on human rights . . .
12
www.nordicom.gu.se/unesco.html
D. Roger/UNESCO
UNESCOs programmes
www.unesco.org/education/ecp/index.htm
www.unesco.org/human_rights/index.htm
13
Culture of Peace in
Passport to Equality
14
UNESCOs programmes
www.unesco.org/cpp/wcp
http://upo.unesco.org
15
Culture of Peace in
Educational kit
The Practice of Citizenship, published in 1998
16
www.unesco.org/culture/citiesforpeace/
html_eng/winners.shtml
www.unesco.org/education
UNESCOs programmes
D. Roger/UNESCO
Community radio
UNESCO supports the development
of local-level, community media
particularly to give isolated or
disadvantaged social groups a
chance to participate in the
development of strategies and
projects that promote dialogue
and pooling experiences at local
levels. A handbook on principles,
policies and materials relevant to
the development of community
media is currently being prepared
and will be made available to
Member States.
encouraging participation, information
sharing and innovation.
Community Radio focuses on the use of
appropriate communication and
information tools to support decisionmaking and encourage dialogue between
citizens and public authorities to enhance
democratic governance.
www.unesco.org/webworld/com/
broadcasting/broad03.shtml
17
Culture of Peace in
Pluralism (CLT/CP)
www.unesco.org/culture/dialogue/html_eng/
index_en.shtml and
www.unesco.org/dialogue2001
18
www.unesco.org/tolerance/index.htm
For information on other programme activities in this action area: UNESCO Universal Declaration
Dialogue among Civilizations, www.unesco.org/dialogue2001 International Decade of the Worlds
UNESCOs programmes
M. Spier-Donati/UNESCO
international
assistance for
safeguarding the
site and guarantee
the relevance of
projects as well as
their conformity
with international
standards in
conservation. One
of the main
objectives of UNESCOs projects in Angkor
is the training of a new generation of
archaeologists and architects.
www.unesco.org/culture/japan-fit/
html_eng/angkor.shtml
www.unesco.org/culture/heritage/
19
Culture of Peace in
20
UNESCOs programmes
www.unesco.org/webworld/com_media/
peace.html
www.unesco.org/webworld/com/broadcasting/
broad04.shtml
21
Culture of Peace in
22
www.unesco.org/securipax
Intercultural mediation
Mediation can repair the social fabric by
teaching how to manage and overcome
conflict. In this way, diverse forms of
mediation follow the lines of education for
a culture of peace, by encouraging a
positive attitude towards cultural difference.
Art, used as a formal and informal
pedagogical tool, makes exchanges
possible and serves as an instrument for
intercultural mediation. This approach is
currently being applied in two projects in
the Balkans, Towards a Plural Cultural
Identity in a Region of Inter-Communitarian
Tension, and the establishment of the ARS
www.unesco.org/culture/pluralism/balkan/
html_fr/index_fr.shtml
UNESCOs programmes
Reconstruction (ED/EPS/CCR)
www.unesco.org/education/emergency/
unesco/projects.shtml
www.unesco.org/education/emergency/
unesco/case_studies.shtml
(SC/HYD)
www.unesco.org/water/wwap/pccp
23
Title
A/56/5, 13 November 2001 International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence
for the Children of the World, 20012010
A/55/282, 28 September 2001 International Day of Peace
A/56/349, 13 September 2001 Report of the Secretary-General: International Decade for a
Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the
World, 20012010
A/55/47, 29 November 2000 International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence
for the Children of the World, 20012010
A/55/377, 12 September 2000 Report of the Secretary-General: International Decade for a
Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the
World, 20012010
A/53/243, 6 October 1999 Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace
A/52/13, 15 January 1998 Culture of Peace
A/53/25, 19 November 1998 International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence
for the Children of the World, 20012010
24
Message by the United Nations Secretary-General: Message on the opening of the International
Decade for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001
Message by the UNESCO Director-General: Message marking the beginning of the International
Decade for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001
Action Plan for the International Decade adopted by the International Conference of NGOs
maintaining official relations with UNESCO, 1215 December 2001
Report on the International NGO Symposium, 2425 November 2001: The Culture of Peace:
An Idea in Action
Report on the progress made by UNESCO in the implementation of the programme of action on
a culture of peace and on co-operation with the United Nations system in this field (161 EX/17,
item 3.1.1, document presented at the 161st session of UNESCOs Executive Board, April 2001)
All documents are available on http://www3.unesco.org/iycp/uk/uk_sum_refdoc.htm
For the list of titles on Culture of Peace available from UNESCO Publishing, go to
http://upo.unesco.org and enter Culture of Peace in the Search box.
The designations employed and the presentation of material
throughout this publication do not imply the expression of
any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning
the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its
authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or
boundaries.
Credits:
p. 8, Barefoot College, Tilonia, Rajasthan (India).
p. 9, The Kites logo for the programme on Non-violence
Education at UNESCO was created by A. Kurtycz.
pp.11, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, A. Kurtycz.
www.unesco.org/cp