Director-General's message on the occasion of the Opening Ceremony of the Geneva Peace Week

Opening Ceremony of the Geneva Peace Week 2024

“What is Peace?”

Monday, 14 October 2024, at 4.30 p.m.

Room XX, Palais des Nations

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Colleagues and friends,

Welcome to the Opening Ceremony of Geneva Peace Week 2024, at the Palais des Nations, in this beautiful room known as the “Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room”. The ceiling above you is an artwork by the Spanish painter Miquel Barcelò that evokes a multicolored planet, washed by the foam of the tides. It elicits the unity and dialogue needed in the international community to face up to the challenges ahead of us.

Over a decade ago, the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, Interpeace, the Permanent Mission of Switzerland, and the United Nations Office at Geneva came together with a simple but powerful idea: to bring diverse voices and initiatives into one shared space for a week of focused dialogue on peace. Today, the Geneva Peace Week has become a cornerstone of Geneva’s commitment to fostering global peace.

We are gathered today in the city of peace, human rights, diplomacy and dialogue, united by a profound purpose: to reflect on the theme “What is Peace?” As simple as this question may seem, it invites profound reflection. Peace is more than the absence of conflict – it is the presence of justice, the protection of human rights, sustainable development and the opportunity for everyone, everywhere, to live in security and hope.

Building peace is a process that requires us to confront complex global challenges: climate change, inequality, cyber threats, mass displacement, and the declining trust in institutions. Achieving peace calls for more than just addressing the symptoms of conflict – it demands tackling its root causes, ensuring no one is left behind. 

Achieving peace requires bold leadership, innovative thinking, and a shared vision. The Pact for the Future, recently adopted at the Summit of the Future, provides us with a unique opportunity – a roadmap for building peace that is inclusive, enduring, and capable of addressing the challenges of both today and tomorrow. It highlights the importance of strong partnerships with all stakeholders – civil society, the private sector, regional organizations, youth groups, parliaments and local authorities – and calls for shaping a national whole-of-society sustainable peace to pass on to future generations. 

This week is not just about discussing peace – it’s about creating it. How can we weave peace into the fabric of our daily lives, our policies, and our global systems? How do we ensure that peace is inclusive, resilient, and future-ready in a world of growing interconnection and shared challenges?

As we embark on this week’s discussions, let us remember: the peace we build today will define the world of tomorrow. Let this week be a spark for fresh ideas, stronger partnerships, and a renewed commitment to peace in all its dimensions.

I wish you all a productive and inspiring Geneva Peace Week.

Thank you.