“A Rose in Winter” film screening

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,

A very warm welcome to this special screening of “A Rose in Winter” as part of this year’s edition of Geneva Peace Week. It’s a great pleasure to be here this evening, and a particular honour to have the Director of the film, Joshua Sinclair, with us tonight. Thank you, Mr Sinclair, not only for making this remarkable film of course, but for sharing it with us today.

Geneva Peace Week is a unique opportunity, not only for International Geneva, but indeed the wider Geneva and Swiss community, to listen, learn and share ideas and experiences for building and maintaining peace in what is an increasingly turbulent world.

Tonight’s film, “A Rose in Winter” demonstrates the values that Geneva Peace Week represents, and which the United Nations in Geneva holds dear. Edith Stein, as you will soon see, was extraordinary. Born Jewish and later becoming a Carmelite nun, as well as an outspoken advocate in the women's rights movement, she stood up to the terror of national socialism, a path that would lead her to martyrdom in Auschwitz. She was uncompromising in her courage and commitment, while at the same time carrying herself with humility. During one of humanity’s darkest periods, Edith Stein was a shining light for feminism and for peace. Her story is compelling, and I am sure that her legacy will stay with you long after this evening.

We are especially privileged to have Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, with us. I would like to pay a special tribute to him tonight. This may be one of, if not the last, public event in which we are both present. Staffan is leaving after an extraordinary and illustrious career – he thinks it is over but I am not sure! He is someone who, like Edith Stein, has dedicated his life to serving others for years and is an inspiration to many throughout the world. He has been in every conceivable part of the world, looking for problems he can solve. Staffan, we all owe you a great debt of gratitude for your tireless dedication, action and perseverance in the pursuit of peace, and for your significant contributions to the United Nations and multilateralism, and particularly your dedication to finding a solution to the Syria crisis.

History has valuable lessons for us all as we consider how to address contemporary - and future - challenges to peace and security around the world. Not only can we learn how to avoid the mistakes of the past, but we can also learn from those before us who stood up for what was right in the face of hate and cruelty.

We know that collective security and the practice of peace represent major challenges for our societies. And we also know that to defend peace at the global and national levels is to ensure sustainable societies, respectful of human rights. But individual action - the role that everyone can play in the construction of peace and the resolution of conflicts - is really fundamental. That is where Edith’s story serves as an inspiring example of personal courage and sacrifice. She shows us that, in any circumstance, under any constraint, each of us can make a difference in promoting peace.

A big warm thank you to all those involved in bringing the story of Edith Stein to the Palais des Nations this evening. It is really an honour for us to host such an evening.

Thank you.