FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION
An announcement from the United Nations
On 7 September 2017, the President of the UN General Assembly will convene a High-level Forum on the Culture of Peace.
Following the wide-ranging success of the UN General Assembly’s first High-level Forum on The Culture of Peace held on 14 September 2012 and each successive annual Forums, the Assembly, under the guidance of its President H.E. Mr. Peter Thomson and co-sponsored by 102 Member States, adopted by consensus the resolution 71/252 on “Follow-up to the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace”.
Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly
On 13 September 1999, the General Assembly adopted, by consensus and without reservation, resolution 53/243 on the Declaration and Programme of Action on Culture of Peace. Amongst others, it provided the driving force for the advancement of the UN-declared International Decade for Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010).
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What is the United Nations doing for a culture of peace?
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Through annual substantive resolutions for the last 20 years as well as annual High-level Forums since 2012, the General Assembly has highlighted the priority it attaches to the full and effective implementation of these forward-looking objectives which are universally applicable and sought after by the vast majority of peoples in every nation.
In keeping with this approach, this year’s High-level Forum aims to highlight emerging trends that impact on the realization of a culture of peace and to enable Member States and others to exchange ideas on further promoting a Culture of Peace.
Programme
The High-level Forum as in past years will consist of an opening session, a plenary segment, an interactive panel discussion and a closing segment. The opening session and plenary segment will be held in the General Assembly Hall from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm. The panel discussion will take place in the Trusteeship Council Chamber and will focus on “Sowing the Seeds of the Culture of Peace: Early Childhood Development is the Beginning”
Format
A President’s summary of the meeting will be made available to all Member States.
Participation
Member and Observer States are invited to participate at the highest possible level. The meeting is also open to UN agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector and other stakeholders.