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UN Secretariat, NYC— On 28 September 2023 at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, ECPC global experts and a high-level panel of world leaders demonstrated to a full-house of attending mission states and members of civil society, the evidence-based science and practice that underscores the vital importance of investing in Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs and services as viable pathways to sustainable peace.

A celebratory reception at UNICEF House followed, which featured the world premier of the ECPC song of hope "Seeds of Peace", performed by ECPC Co-founder and former Yale Whiffenpoof Dr. Kyle D. Pruett, and the celebrated Yale Music in Schools Initiative All-City Children's Choir.

The ECPC extends much gratitude to the Permanent Missions of Ireland, Colombia, and Chile to the United Nations that co-sponsored this UNGA-78 high-level session.

Resources - in order of presentation

► Read the Concept Note. 

► Watch the four-part ECPC UNGA-78 video series (see also right column).

 ECPC UNGA-78 High-level Session

Program Brochure with speaker biographies.

ECPC white paper

Overview of the Early Childhood Peace Consortium’s Early Childhood and Peacebuilding Research and Practice

ECPC Policy Briefing Note 1

Early Childhood Development and Its Promise for Peace

ECPC Policy Briefing Note 2

Taking Action on the Safety, Well-being, and Development of Children in Conflict/Post Conflict Countries

ECPC Global Call for Action

We, the members of the Early Childhood Peace Consortium, ask for support from Member States to:

1. Secure a UN Resolution on Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Peacebuilding to promote peace, social cohesion, and social justice. 
2. Share knowledge from the research and programmatic evidence and successful peacebuilding initiatives globally that link early childhood development and peacebuilding agendas. The ECPC is a technical ally and strong advocate to support UN member state champions for young children.    
3. Call for greater inclusion and focus on young children and their families in the ambitious New Agenda for Peace and Our Common Agenda Framework.  
4. Accelerate the achievement of SDG Goals 3, 4, 5 and 16 by promoting, investing, and operationalising public policy reforms and universal access to services that contribute to peacebuilding and the reduction of violence, starting with young children and their families. 
5. Call on the international community for their unwavering commitment to and strong partnerships for implementing and scaling up ECD services that foster a Culture of Peace, learning from and leveraging the expertise and experience of countries and networks like the Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC) and the International Network on Peace Building for Young Children (INPB).