Culture of Peace
Marking the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World at the outset of the third millennium (2001-2010), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reiterated that war is rooted in man's mind and that this mentality needs to be destroyed right in the human psyche.
Similarly, peace takes root in the minds of individuals, and efforts should be made to foster its growth within the human mind.
For years, peace groups have tried to seek peace concepts at different governments' high levels diplomatically. That is why many social movements have equated the idea of peace with the absence of war. But the point is that peace does not mean war is nonexistent. Peace can remain elusive even in a land where war is nowhere to be seen. Peace manifests itself in the peaceful coexistence of people who live a life full of freedom, justice, awareness and democracy.
Peace comes with principles, fundamentals and specially-designed infrastructure, which turn peace into a cultural movement when they are all combined.
A peaceful society is achieved when the following principles are established, allowing all individuals to enjoy equitable benefits;
- Paying heed to human rights
- Lending support to the rights of children, women and the elderly
- Having access to equitable and inclusive education
- Paying attention to the minorities, ethnicities, cultures and subcultures in all societies
- Protecting the environment
- Taking heed of the intangible cultural heritage
- Paying attention to people with special needs
- Focusing on sustainable development
- Supporting immigrants and refugees
- Concentrating on collective interests
- Eliminating poverty and providing access to a prosperous life [for all]
- And preventing acts of violence, physical elimination, armed conflict and military action
Efforts to formulate the above principles help build the necessary infrastructure for peace in every society.
Formulation of these principles requires education and promotion. Not all governments are expected to walk down this path. The successful establishment of such infrastructure signifies growth within any society. But the existing political, social and economic systems are seemingly nowhere near that point. To firmly establish such a mindset, training must be provided to generations. Symbols of peace should be propagated, and philosophers, socialists, psychologists, policymakers, planners and jurists should lay down these principles. Subsequently, families, teachers, trainers, educational facilitators, and all child-friendly communities must guide children and adolescents in applying these concepts effectively.
Clinging to such hope, we have initiated programs to teach peace to set the stage for introducing and forming the principles of peace. Our mission is to prepare the next generation of children to live in a peaceful world through various programs. This generation is expected to put collective interests above individual interests in policymaking and give precedence to a line of thinking which revolves around coexistence, tolerance and mutual understanding over war, elimination and violence.
We are trying hard to bring up such a generation and hope to be successful down this path.