Video Message by Mr. Miguel Moratinos
the High-Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
at the High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace
7 September 2021
Your Excellency, Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to join you again in this year’s forum to talk about “the culture of peace”, a topic that is becoming more relevant every day in the context of the multidimensional impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Peace is at the heart of the work we do at the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
We firmly believe that peace should be embraced as a way of life. A continued process, not a one-time, feel-good action.
A culture of peace should be nurtured through strengthening mutual respect and protecting the dignity of all members of the society regardless of their race, religion, belief, or gender.
We are all challenged today by a global human crisis that the pandemic brought upon us all. Across the world, the virus of hate continues to spread risking our efforts for recovery from the pandemic.
Therefore, this year’s forum provides an opportunity not only to renew our commitment to the Declaration and the program of Action on a Culture of Peace but also to recommit to taking results-oriented action towards uprooting all forms of discrimination and eliminating inequalities through promoting diversity and nurturing a culture of peace by broadening the space for intercultural and interreligious dialogue.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations strengthens a culture of peace through our cross-sectoral initiatives in the areas of Education, youth, women, religious leaders, faith-based organizations, media, and migration.
Concluding, as COVID-19 exposed the fissures and shortcomings in our societies, it is never too late to reverse course. Fulfilling goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development “building peaceful, just and inclusive societies,” is more imperative now than ever before. Allow me to reiterate that words like dialogue, tolerance, diversity, and respect mean little if not supported by a concrete broad range of actions under an international umbrella of sincere cooperation from state and non-state actors.
I thank you.