Syrian girl in refugee camp (Suruc, Turkey) holds peace hand sign.

Building 'The Culture of Peace'

Building ‘The Culture of Peace’

Why is early childhood a unique opportunity to transform from a culture of war to a culture of peace?
Syrian girl in refugee camp (Suruc, Turkey) holds peace hand sign.
Syrian girl in refugee camp (Suruc, Turkey) holds peace hand sign. © Radek Procyk | Dreamstime

Introduction

“In the efforts to promote ‘The Culture of Peace’, there is an increasing focus and attention on young children who contribute in a major way to the sustainable and long-lasting impact on our societies. A child’s tendency toward either violent aggressiveness or nonviolence begins to take shape as early as age four or five. That is why ‘The Culture of Peace’ movement is focusing increasingly on the transformative power of young children and families as agents of change for peace.”

— United Nations Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, ECPC Executive Cmte Member

Explore this work area by scrolling through each of the sections and subsections below.

Topics & initiatives

"Children of the World Dream of Peace" mural by Leo Tanguma at the Denver International airport.

Realizing 'The Culture of Peace'

Following the formal end of the Cold War and birth of the United Nations, the idea of peace grew into something more than just the absence of war or conflict. Learn why early childhood provides a unique opportunity to transform the culture of war into the culture of peace.
Multi-colored cutouts of children holding hands, symbolizing the diversity and unity of the world's people.

“We the Peoples” path to peace

In this new era of "We the Peoples", learn why it is time to shape innovative and transformative approaches to address policies and global action to reduce violence, and build and sustain peace by engaging families and children.
Nimba (Africa) child looks toward the sky for a hopeful future.

Peacebuilding through early childhood development

  • What is peace? Peacebuilding? Social cohesion?
  • What is early childhood development (ECD)?
  • How does ECD interrelate with peacebuilding?
  • The biological evidence of peace
  • The 'Ecology of Peace' conceptual framework 
  • Exemplars: Peacebuilding through ECD programming
Young child and father caringly hold a blue-green Earth ball.

Learning & teaching peace

  • PBEA Learning for Peace: A UNICEF initiative
Friends at a Holi colors festival (India) join hands as a show of unity and teamwork.

Interreligious & intercultural peacebuilding

The success of interreligious peacebuilding is often reflected when people from different faith groups agree to work together by launching joint educational, social, or political initiatives that aim to enhance the possibilities of living together peacefully.
Multi-colored illustration: 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

2030 Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations SDGs, also known as Global Goals, build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Learn why they aim to go further to end all forms of poverty by year 2030.

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