“We must move from the law of the jungle to that of understanding, dialogue, and listening, to the conviction that people understand each other by talking”
The International Peace Bureau (IPB) deeply mourns the passing of close friend and dedicated culture of peace advocate Federico Mayor Zaragoza. As Director of UNESCO from 1987 until 1999, he centered the importance of education as a tool for development, peace and human security. In 2000, he founded the Fundación Cultura de Paz, dedicated to promoting a culture of peace and building dialogue and understanding between cultures and peoples, emphasizing the importance of gender equality and women’s involvement in a culture of peace. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on several occasions, including by IPB.
For IPB, Federico represented a beacon of hope for peace and international cooperation and we were proud to work with him frequently over the years. In 1999, his speech at the Hague Appeal for Peace Conference opened up doors for international partnership with UNESCO on the Global Campaign for Peace Education. He welcomed IPB into the Ubuntu Civil Society Network and helped organized our 2016 and 2021 World Peace Congresses in Berlin and Barcelona. His speeches inspired – but even more, they provided hope and concrete actions for a more peaceful future.
We honor his legacy and his lifetime of contributions to peace, justice, and cultural dialogue. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were touched by his remarkable life.
Federico Mayor, December 2024
“We, the peoples, have resolved to save future generations from the scourge of war”. – UN Charter
When everything appeared
indecipherable, irreversible,
dark and meaningless,
radiantly arose in every human being
the light of the extraordinary mystery
of life
Suddenly, renewed hope
on new paths
on a personal and collective scale.
Now, duty of memory, for urgent action.
Now, at last, the power of the word
and never again that of arms.
Now, yes now, “we, the peoples”,
equal in dignity.
Photos from Ingeborg Breines
