World Lebanese Cultural Union
The World Lebanese Cultural Union ECOSOC representative Roger Hani has participated at the High level forum on the Culture of Peace at the UN Headquarters in New York City. As Lebanon’s seat was empty, Mr Hani was joined by Dr Marwan M. Refaat, Assistant Professor of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine at the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center.
As a background, on 13th of September 1999, the United Nations General Assembly had adopted by consensus, the declaration and Program of action on a culture of Peace, and the International Decade for culture of peace and non-violence for the children of the world. The objective is recognizing the need for continuous support and the strengthening of global movements to promote the culture of peace, and to have an exchange of ideas and proposals towards these goals.
Mr Hani noted that the world is still being confronted with the prevalence of conflicts in virtually all continents; the absence of “dialogue and a culture of peace” has contributed to fueling violent conflicts and to continuous acts of violence and extremism spreading in different regions.
The Forum evolved around encouraging dialogue and promotion of values of tolerance and cooperation among various religions and cultures as well as respect of religious and cultural diversity, which is the cornerstone for peacekeeping, peace-building, conflict prevention and sustainable development.
The forum elaborated on The Alliance of Civilizations initiative role in promoting a culture of peace. It also focused on the important role of the youth in promoting the values of peace and understanding.
“It is not enough to send peacekeeping forces to separate warning parties and to engage in peace-building efforts after societies have been ravaged by conflicts”. In order to attain an enduring end to conflicts, the culture of peace must be nurtured, promoted and guided by principles of non-violence, tolerance, acceptance and mutual respect for all; we must consciously build and promote the principle of learning to live together in a friendly way.
“If we are to teach real peace and to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children”, peace education is an essential way of promoting a culture of peace.
The youth should be encouraged and whenever possible be empowered to take the lead in organizing activities that would instill in them the values associated with the culture of peace.
Enduring peace cannot be achieved while poverty prevails and in the face of social inequality, the reduction of poverty throughout a sustainable economic and social development remains a major challenge.
Each Government has to introduce in its educational system compulsory courses on the culture of peace, including lessons in mutual understanding, tolerance, citizenship and human rights.
To attain an enduring end to conflicts, the culture of peace must be nurtured and promoted.
The promotion of a culture of peace belongs to parents, teachers, politicians, journalists….the educative and informative role of the media contributes to the promotion of culture of peace.
The culture of peace begins at home.
