Leaders for Peace had the honor of being received by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at UN Headquarters in New York.
This meeting took place at a symbolic and significant moment, as the United Nations celebrates its 80th anniversary and the world faces growing tensions, protracted conflicts, and new global vulnerabilities.
A shared conviction: international law as the foundation of peace
At the heart of this discussion was our shared commitment to upholding international law and international humanitarian law, which we consider to be the only true guarantors of lasting peace in a changing world.
This meeting provided an opportunity to present the 2024 Report for Peace to the Secretary-General, in the presence of the Leaders for Peace delegation composed of Donia Kaouach, Pierre Vimont, and Khalil Karam. This report brings together the reflections, warnings, and concrete proposals of prominent figures committed to more humane, inclusive, and sustainable governance.
Support for educational initiatives
We were honored by the support expressed by Mr. Guterres for our educational initiatives, and in particular for the Traveling Universities of Peace, a program based on the conviction that education is an essential tool for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
The Secretary-General also expressed openness to exploring new formats for the General Assembly to make it more inclusive, more effective, and more attuned to current challenges.
Reinvesting in peace
As the UN marks a historic milestone on its 80th anniversary, this moment reaffirms a fundamental truth: peace cannot be relegated to the status of a distant ideal. It must remain at the heart of international cooperation—a shared responsibility that requires courage, imagination, and a willingness to take action.
