🌇【文章】為持久和平學習：透過教育建立及維護和平
2024年1月24日，紐約：由聯合國教科文組織和教育與終身學習友好團體共同舉辦的第六屆國際教育日全球紀念活動，聚焦於教育在塑造可持續、包容及和平未來中的關鍵角色，倡導全球教育和平倡議。它匯集了會員國、聯合國機構、非政府組織、教育利益相關者和青年代表，探討持久和平與全球公民教育中的優先事項及挑戰。
圖文來源：聯合國教科文組織保留所有權利。
2024年2月8日（最後一次更新為2024年2月9日）
在全球衝突激增，歧視與仇恨言論急劇增加的情形下，國際教育日強調了利益相關者致力於透過教育打擊仇恨言論、促進數位公民權的承諾。建立在近期通過的聯合國教科文組織有關和平、人權及可持續發展教育的建議原則基礎上，該活動旨在提高人們對和平教育有效途徑的意識並動員執行它們的承諾。
由聯合國可持續發展目標（SDGs）年輕領袖Richa Gupta所主持的高級別動態專題討論中，會員國及聯合國高級官員聚集一堂，共同探討全球教育所面臨的急迫挑戰。第78屆聯合國大會主席Dennis Francis閣下著重提及全球範圍內建立資源充足的教育體系的關鍵性需求，他對聯合國教科文組織賦予學習者推動變革者角色的前瞻性方法表示讚賞，而這一觀點也得到了聯合國副秘書長Amina J. Mohammed女士的贊同。Mohammed女士著重表示填補教育資金缺口的急迫性，並讚揚聯合國教科文組織及教育與終身學習友好團體在聯合國總部以及特別是與未來協定有關的討論中，優先考慮教育的奉獻精神。
代表教育與終身學習友好團體發言的肯尼亞常駐聯合國代表Martin Kimani閣下敦促國際社會加大支持發展中國家擴大接受教育的承諾，確保沒有人被落下。他認知到來自轉型教育峰會及可持續發展目標峰會取得的進展與成就，並展望即將舉行的未來峰會，重申該團體致力於將教育作為應對現代挑戰的積極變革力量的奉獻精神。同時，聯合國教科文組織教育助理總幹事Stefania Giannini女士回顧了聯合國教科文組織關於和平教育建議中所概述的原則，強調將教育作為未來協定的優先考慮事項，以有效應對全球挑戰的急迫性。塞拉利昂信息與公民教育部長Chernor Bah閣下發表了主題演講，特別表示教育作為對抗當代威脅的強力武器之長期重要性，展示了塞拉利昂致力於教育可及性，並與聯合國教科文組織合作將可持續解決方案整合進該國框架的承諾。
創新方法：通過教育塑造持久和平的未來
在專題討論中，強調了創新方法在透過教育塑造持久和平未來中的至關重要意義。與會者著重於改革教育體系以增強危機應對能力與提高教育質量的緊迫需要，重點介紹了「安全學習」聯盟等倡議。此外，也特別表示將聯合國安理會關於婦女、和平與安全的決議作為可持續和平的堅實框架之實施意義，重點關注了地方利益相關者，包括教育工作者的關鍵作用。也點出年輕人在建設和平中不可或缺的作用，以及為實現持久和平未來所投資的教育與青年的急迫性，尤其是在未來峰會即將召開之際。
由聯合國教科文組織和平與可持續發展司司長Christopher Castle主導的專題討論吸引了各行各業的聲音。青年倡導者，包括危險言論項目的Emeline O’Hara及青年事務助理秘書長Felipe Paullier，與備受尊敬的專家們如全球教育夥伴關係副首席執行官Charles North及聯合國兒童基金會教育與青少年發展司司長Robert Jenkins一起參與討論。其他知名演講者包括全球婦女和平建設網絡的Mavic Cabrera Balleza、教育正義與記憶網絡的Julia Paulson及國際和平教育研究所的Anthony Jenkins。
中間由茱莉亞音樂學院學生演奏的小提琴音樂，及2023-2024年美國國家青年詩人得主Salome Agbaroji朗誦的一首深情詩歌豐富了這次的活動。Agbaroji的話語深深地引起共鳴，有力地概括他們對讚美多樣性的，和諧的未來願景：
「給孩子一本書是不夠的。他們還需要一棵棕櫚樹坐在下面，一個他們的風箏可以在其中飛翔的光輝天空。」
Learning for Lasting Peace: Building and Sustaining Peace through Education
24 January 2024, New York: Co-organized by UNESCO and the Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning, the sixth global observance of the International Day of Education centered on the pivotal role of education in shaping sustainable, inclusive, and peaceful futures, championing global initiatives on education for peace. It brought together Member States, UN entities, non-governmental organizations, education stakeholders, and youths to explore priorities and challenges in lasting peace and global citizenship education.
Amid a global surge in conflicts and alarming increases in discrimination and hate speech, the International Day of Education reinforced stakeholders’ commitment to combat hate speech and promote digital citizenship through education. Building upon the principles outlined in the recently adopted UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development, the event aimed to raise awareness for effective approaches in education for peace and mobilize commitment for their implementation.
In a dynamic high-level panel moderated by Richa Gupta, a Young Leader for the SDGs, Member States and UN high-officials came together to address pressing global education challenges. H.E. Dennis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the General Assembly, set the tone by highlighting the critical need for well-resourced education systems worldwide. He praised UNESCO’s forward-thinking approach in empowering learners as catalysts for change, sentiments echoed by Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Ms. Mohammed emphasized the urgency of bridging the financing gap for education and commended UNESCO and the Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning for their dedication to prioritizing education at the UN Headquarters, and especially in discussions related to the Pact for the Future.
Speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong, H.E. Martin Kimani, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN, urged increased international commitment to support developing countries in expanding access to education, ensuring no one is left behind. Recognizing progress and achievements from the Transforming Education Summit and SDG Summit and looking ahead to the upcoming Summit of the Future, he reaffirmed the Group’s dedication to spotlighting education as a transformative force for positive change in addressing modern challenges. Meanwhile, Ms. Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director- General for Education, recalled the principles outlined in the UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, stressing the urgency to prioritize education in the Pact for the Future to effectively address global challenges. Delivering a key-note statement, H.E. Chernor Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, underscored education’s enduring importance as a potent weapon against contemporary threats, showcasing Sierra Leone’s commitment to education accessibility and collaboration with UNESCO to integrate sustainable solutions into the country’s framework.
Innovative approaches: shaping a future of lasting peace through education
During the panel discussion, the crucial significance of innovative approaches in shaping a future of enduring peace through education was underscored. Panelists emphasized the urgent need to overhaul education systems to bolster resilience in crises and enhance educational quality, highlighting initiatives like the " Safe to Learn" coalition. Additionally, the significance of implementing UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace, and Security as a robust framework for sustainable peace was stressed, with a focus on the pivotal role of local stakeholders, including educators. The indispensable role of young people in peacebuilding and the urgency of investing in education and youth for a future of lasting peace were also highlighted, especially in anticipation of the upcoming Summit of the Future.
Moderated by Christopher Castle, Director of Division for Peace and Sustainable Development at UNESCO, the panel featured voices from diverse backgrounds. Youth advocates, including Emeline O’Hara from the Dangerous Speech Project and Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary- General for Youth Affairs, joined the discussion alongside esteemed panelists such as Charles North, Deputy CEO of the Global Partnership for Education, and Robert Jenkins, UNICEF‘s Director of Education and Adolescent Development. Other notable speakers included Mavic Cabrera Balleza from the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, Julia Paulson from the Education Justice and Memory Network, and Anthony Jenkins from the International Institute on Peace Education.
The event was enriched by a musical interlude performed by Juilliard School students on the violin, and a poignant poem delivered by Salome Agbaroji, the 2023-2024 US National Youth Poet Laureate. Agbaroji’s words resonated deeply, encapsulating a powerful symbol of their vision for a harmonious future that celebrates diversity:
“It is not enough to give a child a book. But they also need a palm oil tree to sit under, a glitter sky through which their kites can swim."
