NEW
YORK, Sept. 21, 2024 /CNW/ -- The longing for
peace transcends time, geography and religion. Based on justice,
human rights and universal values outlined in the UN Charter, a
culture of peace brings us all together in our common agenda for
humanity. We can only co-exist by aligning ourselves with such a
world order.
On today's International Day of Peace, we call on world leaders
to end conflict and embrace a culture of peace as enshrined in the
UN Charter and related international law.
As the UN General Assembly outlined in the Declaration and
Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace a quarter of a
century ago, this must include: "Respect for life, human rights and
fundamental freedoms; the promotion of non-violence through
education, dialogue and cooperation; commitment to peaceful
settlement of conflicts; and adherence to freedom, justice,
democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural
diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and
among nations."
Educating for peace starts at home and continues in school
through years of education. This takes place during the most
formative years of a child learning about their identity, ethics,
values, conscience, courage and compassion. Wherever there has been
a failure in imparting on children the imperative for peace, the
world is turned upside down. This is a global failure with no
geographical boundaries.
Today, we live in a world of unprecedented violence, armed
conflict and chaos. All the genuine and heartfelt commitments made
in 1945 in the UN Charter seem to be fading away. Children and
adolescents are the most vulnerable, the least protected, and the
most impacted. They bear the brunt.
Global conflicts killed three times as many children in 2023
than in the previous year, according to the United Nations. The
number of forcibly displaced people reached an unprecedented 120
million in May 2024.
"In 2023, the United Nations verified a record 32,990 grave
violations against 22,557 children in 26 conflict zones, a 35%
increase from the previous year," according to recent analysis by
the UN.
We can end these violations and invest in a constructive
co-existence globally. We can use our resources for education,
rather than for wars. In classrooms around the world, girls and
boys who have withstood the wrath of war can rebuild their hopes
and their lives. Cultivating a culture of peace is possible. The
financial resources exist. The choice as to how we use them is
ours.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cultivating-a-culture-of-peace-international-day-of-peace-statement-by-education-cannot-wait-executive-director-yasmine-sherif-302254413.html
SOURCE Education Cannot Wait