WHAT IS A CULTURE OF PEACE
As defined by the United Nations resolution on culture of peace, the culture of peace "consists of values, attitudes and behaviours that reflect and inspire social interaction and sharing based on the principles of freedom, justice and democracy, all human rights, tolerance and solidarity, that reject violence and endeavour to prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation and that guarantee the full exercise of all rights and the means to participate fully in the development process of their society."
Video: Introduction to the culture of peace by Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO who sent the draft culture of peace resolution to the United Nations.
Video: History of the culture of peace told by Ingeborg Breines, former Director of the Women and a Culture of Peace Programme of UNESCO.
Environmental integrity and peace are inextricably linked. As explained in the video on the right below, the culture of peace must be linked to a green transition that saves our environment. Governments need to switch spending from things that fuel the twin crises such as building their armed forces and fossil fuel subsidies to activities that restore the environment and cultivate peace.
The Declaration and Programme of Action for a Culture of Peace, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly describes how the culture of peace is the opposite of the culture of war. It calls for a global movement for a culture of peace.
For a history of the beginnings of the culture of peace at UNESCO, click here;
For up-to-date news about the culture of peace around the world, click here.
During the United Nations International Year for the Culture of Peace, the Manifesto 2000 was signed by 75 million people. They promised to work for a culture of peace in their daily lives.
You can take a course, Activating a Culture of Peace, for free on the website of International Cities of Peace by registering here.
Video: From the Culture of War to the Culture of Peace by David Adams, former director at UNESCO who drafted the culture of peace resolution that was sent to the United Nations.
