As the conflict with Iran enters its eleventh week, the war in Ukraine continues, a ceasefire in Lebanon remains fragile, and violence in Sudan persists, the Palestinian people continue to suffer the effects of an illegal occupation. The accumulation of these crises is fueling a worrying escalation of tensions among the world’s most heavily armed powers, with potentially dramatic consequences for the entire international community.
In this context, both the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Conventions are being openly flouted. The Security Council appears paralyzed, while diplomatic efforts are struggling to produce results. The conflicts in Iran and Ukraine are already causing major economic repercussions on a global scale, exacerbating energy and food security challenges. The resulting inflation hits the most vulnerable populations hardest.
Furthermore, military operations in the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz serve as a stark reminder of the excesses and dangers of unilateralism. In the face of these challenges, Leaders for Peace (LPP) reaffirm their unwavering commitment to diplomacy and respect for international law. Convinced that disputes must be resolved through peaceful and legal means, they stand ready to cooperate with governments and organizations committed to multilateralism and the rule of law.
The international community cannot afford to see the mechanisms of intergovernmental cooperation established under the auspices of the United Nations eroded. A coalition of responsible actors can still generate the political momentum needed to defend and revitalize multilateralism. This requires a surge of intergenerational responsibility, bringing together all forces ready to work for peace, sustainable development, and more effective global governance.
As the United Nations prepares to appoint a new Secretary-General, the LPP calls for support for experienced candidates who have a clear vision and are capable of addressing the complexities of the current moment. The future Secretary-General must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the United Nations Charter, while maintaining the independence necessary to carry out their duties.
In a world subject to significant systemic tensions, the next Secretary-General must be a true architect of dialogue, with solid diplomatic experience. The appointment of a woman would send a strong signal in this regard, given that the Organization has, in its nearly 80 years of existence, been led exclusively by men. While no candidate can succeed without the determined support of a majority of Member States, a poor choice could permanently undermine multilateralism.
A humanism suited to the 21st century involves bringing spiritual and cultural heritages together around a shared vision of cooperation, in step with the emergence of a multipolar world. From this perspective, all countries—regardless of their size or level of development—have a role to play. Building on their exchanges with the Holy See, the Leaders for Peace also intend to engage in dialogue with other religious traditions to foster more enlightened and peaceful forms of interaction on a global scale.
True to their commitment to education, Leaders for Peace will continue their work with young people, in a spirit of intergenerational dialogue, to foster responsible leadership in the service of a more peaceful world.
List of signatories:
- Enrique BARON CRESPO, Chancellor of the United Nations University for Peace, Former President of the European Parliament, Former Chair of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Spain
- Assia BEN SALAH, Special Envoy of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Member of the Royal Academy of Morocco
- Irina BOKOVA, Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Member of the High Committee for Human Fraternity, Former Director-General of UNESCO, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Bulgaria
- Elisabeth DECREY-WARNER, Founder of Geneva Call, Research Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Former President of the Parliament of the Swiss Confederation, Switzerland
- Vuslat DOĞAN SABANCI, Member of the Board of Directors of the Dogan Group, Vice President of the Aydin Dogan Foundation, Honorary Member of the International Press Institute, Turkey
- Jose Augusto DUARTE, Ambassador of Portugal to Spain, Former Ambassador of Portugal to France, Portugal
- Donia KAOUACH, Chair of the Board of Leaders for Peace, President of Tunisiennes Fières
Khalil KARAM, President of the Maronite League, former Ambassador of Lebanon to UNESCO, former Representative of Lebanon to the OIF, former Chargé d’Affaires to the Holy See, Lebanon - Kabiné KOMARA, President of the Global Fairness Initiative, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea, Former High Commissioner of the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River, Republic of Guinea
- Eduardo MALONE, Vice President of Pathé, Member of the Diocesan Council of Paris, Argentina
- Peter MEDGYESSY, Former Prime Minister of Hungary, Former Minister of Finance, Former Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Hungary
- Amre Mahmoud MOUSSA, Former President of Interpeace, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Former Secretary-General of the Arab League, Egypt
- Antonio PATRIOTA, Brazilian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Former Brazilian Ambassador to Egypt, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Brazil
- Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN, Former Prime Minister of France, Honorary President and Founder of Leaders for Peace
- Surakiart SATHIRATHAI, President of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, President of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council, Thailand
- Kanwal SIBAL, Former Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, Former Indian Ambassador to France, India
- Maria VAN DER HOEVEN, Former Board Member of Total Énergies, Former Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, Former Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Senior Fellow at the CIEP (Center for International Energy Policies), Netherlands
- Pierre VIMONT, Former French Ambassador to the United States and the European Union, Former Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Associate Research Fellow at the Carnegie Europe Foundation, France
- Veronika WAND-DANIELSSON, Swedish Ambassador to Germany, Former Swedish Ambassador to France, Former Director General of the Department for Europe and North America at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden
- Lin XIANG XIONG, President of the Global Chinese Arts & Culture Society, Malaysia
- Yin MYO SU, CEO of Inle Princess and President of the Inle Heritage Foundation, Myanmar
- Motohide YOSHIKAWA, Distinguished Professor at Tokyo International Christian University, Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, Japan