Speeches
- Written by: H.E. Mr. Sidi Mohamed Boubacar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mauritania to the UN
I would like to personally call upon all the daughters and sons of Africa to take responsibilities and meet the challenges Africa is facing today in order to implement our Post-2015 Development Agenda in accordance with our “Vision for Africa 2063.”
- Written by: Mrs. Afua Serwaah Kanda, President, United Nations African Ambassadors Spouses Group
Africa, our beloved continent has been, and continues to be described in various ways: the dark continent, the lost continent, the emerging continent and most recently, the continent of this century. Indeed, despite lingering challenges, Africa is making remarkable progress. Perseverance and dedication will eventually see Africa blossom, and take its rightful place in the comity of nations.
- Written by: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
To achieve and sustain peace demands a strong investment – in resources, political will, flexibility, tolerance and the empowerment of people. You have my pledge to continue standing with the people and leaders of Africa as they advance on the path to a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future.
- Written by: H.E. Mr. Téte António, Permanent Representative of the African Union to the United Nations
It is important to move beyond the symbolism of the celebration to engaging in self-assessment and stock-taking leading to a greater focus on building momentum around African-owned and led instruments as tools for the transformative agenda of the continent.
- Written by: H.E. Mr. Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations
Member States of the UN, led by CARICOM countries and the African Union, have embarked on a grand project to erect a monument on the grounds of the United Nations to serve as a Permanent Memorial to the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. We have now entered the final stages of the project.
- Written by: Dr. Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University, US
Over the last decades I have committed myself to understanding and explaining the complex relationship between the West and the Muslim world. After 9/11 it became a matter of urgency for me to both explore and explain the relationship, as the gap between the two had opened dangerously wide.
- Written by: Jan-Peter Ostberg, Chairman, Swedish Institute for Ethic and Society
Jerusalem is a holy city for Jews, Muslims and Christians, roughly half of the world population, and can only be dealt with successfully on the basis of interfaith work, which UPF is so good at. If the path of reconciliation can be the main direction for the region it opens up great possibilities.
- Written by: Shantu Watt, Women's Federation for World Peace-Austria
This visit to Israel has strengthened my resolve to be an agent of change and an Ambassador for Peace in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi who said, "Be the change that you wish to see in the world."
- Written by: Dr. Shantu Watt, Women's Federation for World Peace-Austria
Let me conclude with suggesting a modest proposal for reviving the stalled peace process between Israelis and Palestinians: have a strong parallel track-two negotiation path, a track where Israeli and Palestinian women get together and try to succeed. The women selected for alternative peace talks should have personal experiences at the grass-roots level and bring their visions into the negotiation process in the hope of finding more common ground for making peace.
- Written by: Dr. Eliezer Glaubach, President, Jerusalem Peace and Security Forum
When the parties to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process reached an impasse, despite the efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry, it was quite clear that the process is on the verge of failure.
- Written by: Hon. Carlos Baráibar, Senator, Uruguay
The respect for self-determination and the rule of international law must guide countries’ foreign policies. We have to work to widen the bonds of cooperation and friendship with other countries as a contribution to the common task of world peace, and a more equal international order should be the main objective.
- Written by: Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Co-founder, UPF
After we founded the Universal Peace Federation in 2005, my husband initiated a world tour to 120 countries, visiting one country each day to share his vision of peace, even at the risk of his life. At that time, and continuing throughout 2006, we, along with many of our children and even grandchildren, spoke to audiences in nearly every nation of South, Central and North America. In fact, we continued to share this message all across the world.