Reminding that after the horrors of World Battle within the twentieth Century, “the UN was created within the title of peace”, he affirmed that “we’re united right here in the present day in our pursuit of peace”.
“Peace stays our guiding star and most treasured objective”, Mr. Guterres stated, accepting the accolade bestowed upon these looking for the peaceable coexistence of peoples.
‘Individual of religion’
The Franciscan Lamp of Peace is a reproduction of a glass oil lamp that glows on the monastic grave of Saint Francis of Assisi, who, all through his lifetime, impressed environmental ethics.
The award was first introduced in 1981 and previous recipients included Pope John Paul II, the Dalai Lama, Saint Teresa of Calcutta and former Soviet chief Mikhail Gorbachev.
“As an individual of religion with a deep appreciation and respect for the mission of St Francis, this award and ceremony are particularly significant”, stated the UN chief.
Selling peace
From the beginning of his first time period, the UN chief has made the promotion of peace his high precedence.
And having seen a few of the worst impacts of battle throughout his tenure as UN Excessive Commissioner for Refugees, he launched “a surge in diplomacy for peace”.
“I put higher emphasis on prevention, establishing extra rigorous techniques and frameworks to analyse dangers, reinforce decision-making and assist Member States to take motion earlier than violence escalates”, he knowledgeable the ceremony, by way of videolink.
“When COVID-19 first took maintain, I understood it could be a brand new menace to peace and known as instantly for a worldwide ceasefire to combat our widespread enemy – the virus”.
Trying ahead
As an sincere dealer, bridge builder and messenger of peace, the Secretary-Normal is decided to make use of his good places of work to construct on these initiatives.
“However the wrestle for peace is commonly a Sisyphean job, given the complexity of in the present day’s interlinked conflicts”, he stated. “We reside in a world the place peace is elusive, and underneath monumental menace”.
Mr. Guterres painted an image of nations and areas affected by extended conflicts and locations the place peace is routinely undervalued and undermined, underscoring that these make moments like this much more essential to “honour peace, and mirror on our responsibility to uphold and market it”.
Calls for of peace
As a result of it isn’t a passive acceptance of the established order however a concrete act, and generally a tough selection, the highest UN official stated, “peace makes calls for of us”.
“However in our fractured, troubled world, it’s a important one. It’s the just one. It stays the driving drive behind the work of the United Nations, on daily basis, in each nation”, he added.
Quoting Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti, the Secretary-Normal reiterated that solely by strolling the trail of peace, in solidarity, can we construct a greater future for all, “as a result of peace can obtain wonders that conflict by no means will”.
“In a world the place we will select something, allow us to select peace”, he concluded.
