Peace Paths: Annual Conference of the International Peace Bureau for the 70th anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter, University of Padua, 23-24 October 2015
On the 70th anniversary of the entry into force of the Charter of the United Nations, “Peace Paths”, the Annual Conference of the International Peace Bureau (IPB) will be held in Padua on the 23rd and 24th October 2015. The IPB is an international non-governmental federation, founded in 1892, that supports peace and disarmament initiatives through international projects. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and it is composed by 300 member organisations in 70 countries. The IPB is a Nobel Peace Laureate (1910).
The Conference is co-organized by the Human Rights Centre of the University of Padua, the UNESCO Chair in Human Rights, Democracy and Peace and by several national and international organizations and NGOs. The event is divided into three sessions.
The first one deals with the topic “Peace Planet” and it will be held on Friday October 23rd, at Archivio Antico, Palazzo del Bo (University of Padua).
The second session will be held at the Archivio Antico, Palazzo del Bo (University of Padua). During the session, the island of Lampedusa, represented by the Mayor Giusi Nicolini, and the Gangjeon Village, South Korea, represented by a leader of the Gangjeon Village Association, will be awarded with the 2015 “Sean MacBride” Prize.
The third session, on the topic “The UN Charter is still alive: Strengthening and Democratising the United Nations”, will be held on Saturday October 24th at the Aula Magna Galileo Galilei (University of Padua). Federico Mayor Zaragoza, President of the Foundation Culture of Peace and former UNESCO General Director, will give a keynote lecture entitled “A Refounded United Nations System is more necessary than ever: ‘We, the peoples…’ now, yes, we can”. Antonio Papisca, Professor Emeritus at the University of Padua and Chair-holder of the UNESCO Chair in Human Rights, Democracy and Peace, Reiner Braun and Ingeborg Breines, Co-Presidents of the International Peace Bureau, and Massimo Fabio, Lions Club International, will join the debate.
Simultaneous translation English - Italian - English will be always available. The entrance is free on a first come basis. In order to attend the sessions, it is required to fulfill the online registration form, available at the link below.
In relation to this event, on Friday 23rd October, at the Liceo Curiel of Padua, students will meet one of the leaders of the Gangjeon Village Association, South Korea, and the representatives of the International Peace Bureau. The meeting is promoted by the Fondazione Fontana, within the annual programme of the World Social Agenda. The debate will be preceded by a theatrical play called "Stupido Risiko. Per una geografia della guerra" (director Patrizia Pasqui, with Mario Spallino), a satirical critique concerning the war and its consequences. For further information: http://www.fondazionefontana.org.