Building a Culture of Peace

The Culture of Peace Initiative

On September 13, 1999 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted by consensus the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace (A/RES/53/243). 

Eight action areas are defined in the Program of Action on a Culture of Peace:

(1) Fostering a culture of peace through education,
(2) Promoting sustainable economic and social development, 
(3) Promoting respect for all human rights, 
(4) Ensuring equality between women and men, 
(5) Fostering democratic participation, 
(6) Advancing understanding, tolerance and solidarity, 
(7) Supporting participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge and 
(8) Promoting international peace and security.

In response, the VOV commitment to nonviolent activism entered the global arena by adopting the cause of raising awareness of the United Nations 1999 Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace as a core component of the VOV initiative.

In this regard, VOV strives to foster global perspectives that view violence as a worldwide illness and identify and connect the root causes of violence underlying conflicts from the personal-level to the local-, national- and international-levels based on the eight action areas of the U.N. Culture of Peace initiative. 

Click on the Culture of Peace Lectures, Exhibitions, Television, Blog and Eight Action Areas links to find videos and other multimedia tools and information about the Culture of Peace initiative to help you and your friends learn how to apply the Culture of Peace eight action areas to your daily lives and achieve Victory Over Violence.

Please feel free to use these Culture of Peace materials as part of your local VOV events and activities and post a description and photos of your events in the My.VOV.com online social networking community. 

Education for Sustainable Development

Education for sustainable development initiatives such as the Earth Charter are helping to build a global culture of peace. The mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace. In March of 2000, a consensus was reached on the Earth Charter Initiative by the Earth Charter Commission at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and later officially launched at the Peace Palace in The Hague. 

In response, the VOV initiative adopted the cause of raising awareness of the Earth Charter as another vehicle to identify and connect the root causes of violence underlying conflicts from the personal-level to the local-, national- and international-levels. 

Click on The Earth Charter Initiative to watch Earth Charter-related videos on Earth Charter Television.

You will also find interesting information and materials about the Earth Charter to help you and your friends learn how to apply Earth Charter principles to your daily lives and achieve Victory Over Violence.

Please feel free to use these Earth Charter materials as part of your local VOV events and activities and post a description and photos of your events in the My.VOV.com online social networking community. 

Building Global Solidarity Toward Nuclear Abolition

The abolition of nuclear weapons is a critical step toward the realization of a global culture of peace. VOV supporter Daisaku Ikeda has been a vocal opponent of nuclear weapons for more than 50 years. On September 8, 2009, he issued a five-point plan titled Building Global Solidarity Toward Nuclear Abolition which outlined oncrete steps toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.  His proposal stressed that we now have a unique opportunity to build grassroots solidarity, propel political processes and break out of the stagnation which has dogged nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation efforts.

In response, the VOV initiative adopted the cause of promoting nuclear abolition by helping the world's people clearly manifest their will for the outlawing of nuclear weapons and to help people establish a cognitive connection between the polticial threat of nuclear weapons and the authoritarian tendency within human nature that desires to forcibly bend others to one's will in daily life. 

Click on 2010 Nuclear Abolition Video Challenge to submit or watch videos from around the world that complete the sentence, "Nuclear abolition is..."


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Now more than ever!!
Andrew
There is no greater joy than the joy of PEACE
Lyntillus
I am a suvivor of DV. now I want to be a saviour of DV.
Minako
I am writing today because victory over violence is essential. A Pace football player was killed on Oct. 17,2010 by police. The family is searching for the absolute truth in the reason their son was killed. They are handling everything in a peaceful manner and I pray that will continue. I attended a march for DJ today, he is the boy who was killed. I am a firm believer in victory over violence. Please keep the Henry family in your prayers. I read the daily encouragement on the SGI website, it brings me comfort,"peace and happiness"
Patricia Perugini
I am inspired and pledge to use my life to fight against violence.
Ebony
I believe that one should take the time to know who a person is and not just judge what he or she is.
Glenna
I will show the world how strong we are by choosing victory over violence! Awwwwwww yeah!,
Bob
Recently two of my family members have faced violence. One died the other is struggling to stay alive. This has renewed my resolve to live the VOW.
verenice
I am a teacher in an elementary and a coach in a middle school. I try to reflect on my students my life condition by not giving up on any of them. I believe they have the potential to contribute to the peace of the world. But we the adult have to find strategies to cultivate their mind with positive examples of good behavior. They are the future. We have to trust them and give them something to do.
SANDRA C AROLINA
I believe every human being is inherently good. However during our lives this goodness is clouded by our beliefs, negative thoughts, weakness, environment etc. It's therefore imperative for us to understand and teach others that we are the creators of our world; so we have the power to change it to one of peace and harmony.
Unez


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