Sustainable Peace starts now - with Education - SDG16

Julia Wang
18. Okt.
5 Min. Lesezeit

August 7th,2025, Vienna International Centre

The conference "Sustainable Peace starts now - with Education" focused on several key themes related to peacebuilding and education. The Women's Federation for World Peace, (WFWP) with its presence in 120 countries, hosted the event in cooperation with UNODC-NGO Unit, the Missions of Mexico, the Philippines and Burkina Faso, Debate for Peace and Internatioal Assoziationen for Youth and Students for Peace.

Session 1

https://youtu.be/crxIkpspfHk

Renate Amesbauer, President of WFWP Austria, opened the meeting, made possible on the foundation of the NGO ECOSOC status and regular, substantial cooperation with UNODC and contributions to significant programmes on prevention of drugs and crime.

Dr Maria Riehl, Director WFWPI UN Vienna Office, introduced the "Bridge of Peace" ceremony, the signature project of WFWP, which promotes reconciliation through a four-step process including taking responsibility, stopping enmity cycles, embracing others, and collaborative projects.

Jean-Luc Lemahieu, former Director at UNODC addressed the UN's current challenges and future direction, with emphasis on addressing global issues like climate change and the need to regain credibility.

Ms Paloma Munne, UNODC Youth Mainstreaming and Inter Agency Affairs Specialist, presented UNODC's youth engagement strategies, covering five thematic areas including drug prevention, organized crime, and criminal justice.

Atty. Daryl Generyn Migano, Attache at the Philippine Embassy, addressed the role of education in fostering sustainable peace through examples from the Philippines' peace education initiatives.

Session 2

https://youtu.be/LzhPSpIdIFQ

Steven Aiello introduced his youth-led programme, Debate for Peace, which facilitates dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian youth. He told the story of his youth, when his father started an sports initiative bringing together arab and jewish youth, after incidents of violence increased following the 9/11 in New York.

A panel of 4 young representatives Ms. Emily Shalbi, Mr. Yair Ziv -Av, Ms. Snir Eltzur, Mr. Yousef Abd El Ghany (aged 16 -18yrs) shared their views, answering several questions: “What made you join this initiative, trying to build peace and to find the strength to continue despite challenges; what impact do you think it has?“ The answers given were very inspiring: “It is more inspiring to invest in peace than not to! To see the world not as it is, but as it could be! We all would not be here in this room or buidling, if we would not all believe that it is not possible to reach peace! It is most essential to have an open mind, being able to respect others, then it becomes so inpiring to meet with people of most different backgrounds! We have so much more in common than what divides us! There should be programs at schools that encourage peace building abilities. It is a very bumpy road – many ups and down, it needs consistency and commitment! Things don’t happen quickly.” These are just some of the inspiring answers of youth, 16- 18 yrs old!

The importance of critical thinking and fact-checking to combat misinformation was also emphasised.

Session 3

https://youtu.be/zOg97YGd4N4

Session 3 was led by Kyung In van de Ven Oliveira, opening with the address from the representative of the Mexican Embassy, Diego Alonso Simancas-Gutierrez who conveyed apologies from the Ambassador, stressing that as representatives, their convention is to engage, to listen, to speak, particularly to young people, in order to be effective ambassadors: You are never too loud! Please do not stop engaging with us until you succeed.“

Caroline Hungerlaender, Managing Director of IUFE (Institute for Environment, Peace and Development), spoke of the importance of using education as a tool of building and maintaining peace, mentioning 3 points, using a new term: „Future Literacy“,is 1. understanding that futrue is not fixed, instead we are all shaping it, we are all agent of change! 2. Need for reconciliation: Not only can we shape the future, we can and need to heel the past. Let us teach the courage to ask for forgiveness and the grateness to grant it. 3. Social cohesion; it does not come automatically, it has to be cultivated, best through shared goals. Peace tech is essential. Ms. Hungerländer in her closing words greatly encouraged the young people as the architects for peace.

HE Fatou Angelique Bessin, Counsellor at the Embassy of Burkina Faso, spoke about the traditional role of women: She explained how women are especially trained to be educators, mediators and advisors.

Mothers as Educators: In Burkina education in the traditional and societal values and norms of children are a priority and provided by the family mainly by women. they teach to children the values of peaceful coexistence such as solidarity, respect for truth, a sense of honesty and tolerance and respect for life, mainly through tales, proverbs and songs.

Woman as advisor: The saying 'la nuit porte conseil' is interpreted as the time giving to men to consult women, whether it is their wife or their mother. Their advice can help avoid Community or inter-Community conflicts.

Women as mediators: To settle certain conflicts, particularly those involving couples, the society call on elderly women.

Ms. Bessin also mentioned the men’s school, that aims to encourage men to support their women during pregnancy and participate in home tasks considered reserved for women. This initiative has allowed many men to create an environment of peace in their families.

The role of social pressure: Beyond the family circle, women play a pressure role in front of political leaders. In Burkina Faso, several more or less spontaneous movements and protest against a situation or to demand peace have been recorded.

Stephanie Butscheck, Mentor and Business Coach, describes Peace as most vulnerable. Also, Peace does not begin on paper, peace begins in how we meet one another. Peace ist o tolerate differences, without giving up connection.

Ms. Butschek shares some oft her personal experiences, as a women in whelchair, a teacher with special needs. Peace begins when we choose to remain in relationship, despite the differences and uncertaintes. She zitates MargreteMeade, who said , it is a small number of committed peole that bring changes into this world, it is never by majority.

Peace does not develop straight, it starts with a small step, and another and another, some of them are not loud, maybe not seen. It also starts with overcoming fear. These were some more of Ms.Butschert‘ s wise and encouraging words.

Ejona Icka, President YSP Balkans, UN Coordinator IAYSP Europe & Middle East introduced her organization and the Balkan International Youth Summit for Peace, September 20-22, Mitrovica, Kosovo.: https://summit.yspeace.eu/

She also announced a Peace Designer Training in Vienna, September 26th -28th, 2025. More information: Office@iaysp.at

Finale: Peace Ambassadors Honoured at UN

https://youtu.be/aNttyAt1b8

The meeting concluded with the presentation of Youth Ambassadors for Peace Awards by IAYSP EUME to the young panelists, including Stephen Aiello, Snir Eltzur, Yousef El Ghany, Emily Shalbi, and Yair Ziv-Av, for their contributions to intercultural harmony and the United Nations' mission. The Women's Federation for World Peace also recognized several speakers as Global Women Peace Ambassadors, including Magista Caroline Hungerlaender and Paloma Munne. The event, supported by missions from Burkina Faso, Philippines and Mexico, aimed to promote peace at the UN Vienna office, concluded with the group singing “Let there be peace on earth”.

Summary generated by Zoom recording AI and edited by Lilly Gundacker

13 August, 2025