Paris, September 13 {No.99-188} - UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor has hailed as a "major event of the end of this century" today's adoption, by the 53rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, of a Declaration and a Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.

"The adoption of the Declaration and the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace by the United Nations General Assembly is a major event of the end of this century, which will have been one of the most violent in the history of humanity," declared the Director-General, Mr. Mayor. "With this decision, the international community is marking out another path for the third millennium: the one of peace, development and democracy on the national and international level."

The Declaration defines the culture of peace as a set of values, attitudes, traditions, modes of behaviour and ways of life based on respect for life, ending of violence and promotion and practice of non-violence through education, dialogue and co-operation; commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts; respect for and promotion of the right to development, equal rights and opportunities for men and women, the rights of everyone to freedom of expression, opinion and information; and adherence to the principles of freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, co-operation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations.

The text's provisions may inspire governments, international organisations and civil society in their actions on the national, regional and international level to promote the transition from a culture of force, imposition and violence to a culture of dialogue and understanding.

In the name of its mission for peace as written in its constitution, according to which "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed," UNESCO and its Director-General have made the promotion of a culture of peace a priority. With the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action, the United Nations have made this cause their own.

The Declaration stresses that the fuller development of a culture of peace is integrally linked to promoting peaceful settlement of conflicts, mutual respect and understanding and international co-operation; compliance with international obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law; promoting democracy, development and universal respect for and observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms; enabling people at all levels to develop skills of dialogue, negotiation, consensus building and peaceful resolution of differences ; strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring full participation in the development process ; eradicating poverty and illiteracy and reducing inequalities within and among nations ; promoting sustainable economic and social development ; eliminating all forms of discrimination against women through their empowerment and equal representation at all levels of decision-making; ensuring respect for and protection of the rights of children ; eliminating all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Education at all levels is one of the principal means to build a culture of peace. Governments, civil society and the media can also play a key role. As should all those whose activities have an impact on attitudes of mind: political leaders, parliamentarians, teachers, journalists, intellectuals, parents, religious bodies and groups, social workers, managers at all levels, humanitarian and health workers, non-governmental organisations, as well as those engaged in scientific, philosophical, creative and artistic activities.

The Programme of Action should serve as the basis for the International Year for the Culture of Peace (2000) and the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010). Member States are encouraged to undertake specific actions to promote a culture of peace on the national, regional and international level. Partnerships between the different actors will be strengthened and broadened with the aim of developing a global movement. Finally, those initiatives which have succeeded in promoting a culture of peace and preventing violence will be identified. The communication of such successful initiatives will help in further promoting of a culture of peace.

For the full texts of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace visit the UNESCO Internet site: http://www.unesco.org/opi/paix2000/res.htm