BUILDING A “CULTURE OF PEACE”

Observances and activities for the U.N. International Day of Peace take place on and around September 21, yet Peace Day has an impact on people and communities both before and after this global day, contributing to a “Culture of Peace.”

As defined by the United Nations, “Culture of Peace” is a “set of values, attitudes, modes of behavior and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals groups and nations.” Since its founding over 60 years ago, UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) asserted that, “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.”

For the “8 Action Areas for a Culture of Peace,” CLICK HERE

For a description of the concept and history of the Culture of Peace, CLICK HERE

Kosmos Journal Interview: Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury on the Culture of Peace – December 2015

Culture of Peace Talk with Ambassador Chowdhury, 2009

The concept of a Culture of Peace has now grown into a global movement. Within the Culture of Peace framework, peace embraces far more than an absence of conflict. It encompasses tolerance, disarmament, sustainable economic and social development, democratic participation, gender equality, freedom of expression and respect for human rights. The transition from a culture of war to a Culture of Peace requires the transformation of individual behavior as well as institutional practices. Learning to live in peace and harmony is a long-term process, and begins with the development of inner peace, and nurturing attitudes that promote the expansion and integration of peaceful principles. Education and awareness-raising play a key roles in this process.