As we start 2024, every day we see news of emerging, or re-emerging, conflict, and political uncertainties, as well as a rise in violent acts and hate speech that seem to drown out the pleas of unity and harmony. The impact of this violence transcends boundaries of geography, gender, race, religion, and politics. Now is the time for an active commitment to peace, an indispensable component of what we need to maintain a tenable present, and to build a sustainable future. Without peace, there can be no sustainable development.
Today, January 24, 2024, is the sixth International Day of Education with the theme of “Learning for Lasting Peace”, and UNESCO is working with its many partners to deepen its resolve to transforming lives through quality education and empowering learners with the knowledge, values, attitudes, skills, and behaviors to become responsible agents of peace in their communities.
As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “If we are to reach real peace in this world, we shall have to begin with the children.” Yet today, there are some 250 million children are out of school globally.
