Director-General's remarks at the Geneva Peace Talks 2024
Geneva Peace Talks 2024
“The Future of Peace”
Thursday, 19 September 2024 at 3.00 p.m.
Room XVII, Palais des Nations
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Colleagues and friends,
Welcome to the Geneva Peace Talks 2024 at the Palais des Nations!
I would like to thank our co-organizers - Interpeace, the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland. I would also like to thank our partners, the City and Canton of Geneva, Mirabaud and Nagulendran Philanthropy Alliance. I am truly grateful for our collaboration, which has made this annual event an important moment for the International Geneva community to gather around a common aspiration – peace.
We are gathered here today to mark the International Day of Peace, geared towards “Cultivating a Culture of Peace”, a theme that resonates deeply as we mark the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.
We are also marking the 30th anniversary of Interpeace, which in the words of the UN Secretary General António Guterres “an inspiring force of progress for peacebuilding, developing solutions that can heal divisions and strengthen the foundations of peace in communities across the globe”.
The Geneva Peace Talks 2024 under the topic “The Future of Peace” come at a pivotal moment. In just four days, the world leaders will convene for the Summit of the Future, where the Pact for the Future will be adopted. This Pact is a solemn pledge to safeguard the future of our planet and our people, anchored in the principles of multilateralism, inclusivity, and shared responsibility.
Today, as we gather in International Geneva – a city that has long been a hub for multilateral diplomacy – we must renew our commitment to the cause of peace. Geneva’s role as a platform for dialogue and negotiation has never been more crucial. Here, we have the unique opportunity to shape the future of peace, to bridge divides, and to build a world where every single person can live in peace and dignity.
Peace is not the objective of governments alone. It is a collective endeavor that requires all voices, ideas, and actions. It calls for empathy, humility, and courage.
The future of peace lies in our hands, and it is our shared responsibility to shape it with hope, understanding, and compassion.
Let us use this occasion to inspire each other to take decisive actions in the service of peace. Let us leave here today with a renewed sense of purpose, committed to “cultivating a culture of peace” in our communities, our countries, and our world.
Together, let us work for peace.
Thank you.
This speech is part of a curated selection from various official events and is posted as prepared.