The Power of Culture in Building Peace
We built a world of sharp edges and precious surfaces. The spikes are real. So is the light caught between them. Culture is how we learn to touch what hurts — and still call it beautiful.
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Culture, Peace, and the Global Movement: A Journey Through Time
Culture shapes how we see the world. It connects communities and bridges divides. Throughout history, culture has been a powerful force for peace.
Today, we stand at a critical moment. Global leaders recognize culture not just as art or heritage. Culture is fundamental to sustainable development and lasting peace.
This recognition didn’t happen overnight. It emerged through decades of dedicated work, visionary conferences, and grassroots movements. The story begins in Africa and continues to inspire the world.
Victoria, BC, Canada. Persons Wearing Foo Dog Costume. Photo by Vlad Vasnetsov
The Birth of a Vision: Culture of Peace
In 1989, something remarkable happened in Côte d’Ivoire. The International Congress on Peace in the Minds of Men gathered thinkers and leaders. They asked a profound question: How do we build peace that lasts?
Their answer was revolutionary. Peace isn’t just the absence of war. Peace requires building a culture based on universal values. Respect for life, liberty, justice, solidarity, and tolerance became the foundation.
This initiative took root as the Berlin Wall fell. The world was changing rapidly. Cold War tensions disappeared, creating space for new thinking.
UNESCO embraced this vision. In 1992, the organization’s Executive Board requested a specific program. The Culture of Peace program was born.
From El Salvador to the World
The first Culture of Peace programs launched in post-conflict nations. El Salvador led the way in Central America. In Africa, Mozambique and Burundi followed. These weren’t just pilot projects—they were laboratories for peace.
The programs worked with communities devastated by conflict. They rebuilt not just buildings but social fabric. Education became central to the effort.
International Recognition: A Movement Takes Shape
The momentum grew throughout the 1990s. In 1997, three major initiatives converged:
First, the UN proclaimed 2000 as the International Year for the Culture of Peace. This gave the movement global visibility.
Second, UNESCO proposed a Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. This would become the framework for decades of work.
Third, Nobel Peace Laureates launched their “Campaign for the Children of the World.” This initiative evolved into the International Decade for a Culture of Peace.
The Year 2000: A Global Celebration
The International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000 marked a turning point. Communities worldwide organized events celebrating peace. The Culture of Peace News Network launched to share these stories.
On September 13, 1999, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration and Programme of Action. This historic document outlined eight action areas. It linked peace to democracy, development, human rights, and equality.
The declaration recognized something essential. These priorities had always existed separately. Now they connected through a single coherent concept—culture of peace.
A Decade of Dedication: 2001-2010
The UN declared 2001-2010 as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence. The focus was clear: the children of the world.
This decade saw programs expand across continents. Africa remained central to the work. UNESCO field offices coordinated initiatives in Angola, Gabon, and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Manifesto 2000 gathered nearly 76 million signatures worldwide. People from every continent committed to building a culture of peace. A global movement emerged.
Sustaining the Vision in Africa
In March 2013, a pivotal gathering took place in Luanda, Angola. The Pan-African Forum “Sources and Resources for a Culture of Peace” brought together governments, the African Union, and civil society.
The forum adopted an ambitious action plan. It called for a continental and sustainable movement for peace across Africa.
Following this landmark event, several networks formed:
In September 2013, the Network of Foundations and Research Institutions for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace in Africa launched. Over 50 organizations joined. The Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research in Côte d’Ivoire hosts the permanent secretariat.
In December 2014, the Pan-African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace emerged. Around 60 organizations participate, including National Youth Councils. Gabon hosts the permanent secretariat.
The Biennale of Luanda was established as a recurring Pan-African forum. It serves as a platform for cooperation, a space for cultural exchange, and a multi-actor partnership. The second edition took place in 2021, confirming its role as a hub for peace and conflict prevention.
International Day of Peace: Cultivating Peace in 2024
September 21 is always special. The International Day of Peace brings the world together for 24 hours of non-violence and ceasefire.
In 2024, the theme was “Cultivating a Culture of Peace.” This marked the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration and Programme of Action.
The theme emphasized active participation. Peace requires more than laying down weapons. It demands dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation.
Events took place in communities worldwide. From silent vigils to peace gardens, people demonstrated their commitment. The message was clear: peace begins in our minds and actions.
MONDIACULT: Where Culture Meets Global Policy
While grassroots movements built peace locally, world leaders needed a platform. UNESCO created MONDIACULT—the World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development.
These conferences bring culture ministers together. They shape cultural policies affecting billions of people.
MONDIACULT 1982: Mexico City
The journey began July 26 to August 6, 1982, in Mexico City. This first World Conference on Cultural Policies was groundbreaking.
960 participants from 126 countries attended. They asked fundamental questions about culture’s role in development.
The conference produced the Mexico City Declaration on Cultural Policies. This declaration redefined culture itself. No longer limited to arts and heritage, culture now included ways of life, value systems, traditions, and beliefs.
The declaration introduced the concept of “intangible heritage.” This was revolutionary thinking for its time.
The Long Wait: Four Decades of Change
After 1982, UNESCO held a conference on Cultural Policies for Development in Stockholm, Sweden in 1998. But MONDIACULT itself wouldn’t return for 40 years.
Those decades transformed the world. The internet emerged. Climate change accelerated. Cultural diversity faced new threats. Creative industries exploded.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015. It included 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Yet something was missing—culture had no dedicated goal.
MONDIACULT 2022: Returning to Mexico
After 40 years, MONDIACULT returned September 28-30, 2022, to Mexico City. The timing was perfect. The world needed a renewed vision for cultural policies.
Over 2,600 participants gathered, including 135 ministers of culture. The discussions addressed pressing challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on culture, technological transformation, and climate change effects on heritage.
The conference adopted the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration. This historic document recognized culture as a “global public good.” It called for culture’s inclusion as a standalone goal in the post-2030 development agenda.
The declaration established six priority areas:
- Cultural rights
- Culture in the digital era
- Culture in education
- Economy of culture
- Cultural dimensions of climate change
- Heritage protection in crises
Countries committed to reconvene every four years. A new era of global cultural dialogue had begun.
MONDIACULT 2025: Barcelona’s Historic Gathering
September 29 to October 1, 2025, Barcelona, Spain hosted MONDIACULT 2025. This edition brought thousands of participants and over 150 culture ministers together.
The conference took place at the Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB). Three intensive days of dialogue shaped the global cultural agenda.
MONDIACULT 2025 introduced several groundbreaking initiatives:
The First Global Report on the State of Culture was unveiled. This landmark report resulted from three years of work. It provides structural indicators on culture worldwide. For the first time, policymakers have comprehensive data to guide decisions.
The report revealed encouraging progress. A vast majority of countries now incorporate culture into development policies. Cultural and creative industries account for 3.39% of global GDP. However, significant disparities remain—per capita cultural spending is up to 2,000 times higher in high-income countries.
Two New Focus Areas were added at Spain’s request:
These topics reflected urgent contemporary concerns. How do we protect artists in the age of AI? How does culture build peace amid global conflicts?
The Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects launched, fulfilling a commitment from MONDIACULT 2022. Designed by architect Francis Kéré, this immersive platform fights illicit trafficking of cultural property. It displays nearly 250 objects from 45 countries.
Prominent thinkers contributed to the dialogue. Indian philosopher Gayatri Spivak, Mozambican writer Mia Couto, and Mexican linguist Yásnaya Aguilar shared insights. Digital culture researchers Helen Hester and Marta Peirano addressed AI’s impact.
A parallel Civic Agora welcomed community participation. This space connected citizens with global policy discussions. Cultural diversity, cities and culture, and cultural ecosystems were explored.
The conference concluded with unanimous agreement. Culture must become a standalone goal in the post-2030 development agenda. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay emphasized culture as a common language for building society and finding consensus.
Countries scheduled the next MONDIACULT for 2029 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The quadrennial cycle is now established.
The Campaign for Goal 18: Culture’s Place in Development
A powerful movement emerged from MONDIACULT 2022. Organizations worldwide launched the #Culture2030Goal campaign. Their mission: secure a dedicated Sustainable Development Goal for culture.
Why Culture Deserves Its Own Goal
The current 17 Sustainable Development Goals address critical issues: poverty, hunger, health, education, climate action. Yet culture remains largely absent.
This is a significant gap. Culture isn’t peripheral to development—it’s fundamental.
Research shows cultural initiatives contribute substantially to economic development, social cohesion, and individual wellbeing. Creative industries represent 10% of global GDP. But their value extends beyond economics.
Culture preserves indigenous knowledge systems. It supports community resilience. It promotes dialogue across differences. It addresses complex global challenges in ways other sectors cannot.
What Goal 18 Would Accomplish
The proposed Goal 18 offers a comprehensive framework. It recognizes cultural development as critical to human progress.
The goal would ensure:
- Cultural rights are guaranteed for all
- Cultural heritage receives adequate protection and resources
- Artistic innovation is supported globally
- Creativity is recognized as a fundamental human right
- Cultural diversity is preserved and celebrated
Goal 18 addresses how arts, traditions, and creative expressions build community resilience. It acknowledges culture as essential for social innovation and global understanding.
Growing Global Support
Support for Goal 18 continues to build. Analysis of Voluntary National Reviews shows culture’s importance. In all but two goal clusters, over one-third of countries acknowledge culture’s role.
93% of UNESCO member states responding affirm that culture is central to their national sustainable development plans. This represents countries from every continent and development level.
The movement isn’t just academic. It’s practical. Goal 18 provides a framework that governments at all levels can use. Local, national, and regional authorities can structure their mobilization of culture around clear targets.
Indigenous communities have contributed input to Goal 18’s development. This ensures diverse perspectives shape the goal’s final form.
The Path Forward
Action 11 of the 2024 Summit of the Future’s “Pact for the Future” includes culture. However, it’s associated with sport rather than standing alone.
As the 2030 Agenda approaches completion, discussions about the post-2030 agenda intensify. MONDIACULT 2025 was a decisive moment. It built consensus and momentum for culture as a standalone goal.
The journey continues. Every conference, every campaign action, every community initiative brings Goal 18 closer to reality.
Looking Forward
The story of culture and peace is far from complete. It’s a living narrative we all help write.
From that 1989 gathering in Côte d’Ivoire to MONDIACULT 2025 in Barcelona, a vision has taken shape. Culture isn’t separate from peace and development—it’s central to both.
The Culture of Peace program demonstrated this truth in communities worldwide. MONDIACULT conferences amplified the message at the highest policy levels. The campaign for Goal 18 translates vision into concrete action.
What comes next depends on all of us. Governments must continue supporting cultural policies with adequate resources. Civil society must keep advocating for culture’s rightful place. Communities must nurture the seeds of peace in daily life.
The 2029 MONDIACULT in Saudi Arabia will measure our progress. Will culture achieve its standalone goal? Will the investment gap between Global North and South narrow? Will Culture of Peace initiatives expand?
These questions matter, because culture matters. When we cultivate culture, we cultivate peace. When we protect heritage, we protect humanity’s shared story. When we support artists and creativity, we support innovation and resilience.
The tools are in our hands. The vision is clear. The global community is mobilizing.
Now is the time to act. Whether through supporting Culture of Peace NL’s work, advocating for Goal 18, or simply cultivating peace in your own community—every action counts.
Together, we can build a world where culture thrives and peace endures. This is our common future. This is our shared responsibility. This is the culture of peace we choose to create.