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Briefs from the IIFWP Office of UN Relations

May 2004

Ambassadors for Peace A Global Network of Peacemakers and Peace Builders

History

The Ambassador for Peace Initiative was inaugurated at the IIFWP Convocation on Dialogue and Harmony Among Civilizations: The Family, Universal Values and World Peace, which was part of the 7th World Culture and Sports Festival held in New York City, January 2001. At the close of the Convocation, a declaration was presented which included several key themes: 1. The acknowledgement of the importance and significance of the family as the key to the development and improvement of society 2. The awareness and recognition of common universal values that are shared regardless of nationality, race, religion, culture or civilization. 3. The need for dialogue, particularly interreligious dialogue as an important component to the establishment of peace. 4. The need to establish and promote an ethic of “living for the sake of others.” On this foundation, the Ambassadors for Peace initiative was created. Several participants were appointed as Ambassadors for Peace, pledging to affirm and practice these principles. Two subsequent leadership seminars were held in Washington D.C. where Ambassadors for Peace were also appointed, followed by eight IIFWP Regional International Leadership Seminars: Miami, Florida USA for North America; Prague, Czech Republic for Europe; Moscow, Russia for Eurasia, Montevideo, Uruguay for South and Central America; Sydney, Australia for Oceania; Bangkok, Thailand for Asia; Nairobi, Kenya for Africa; and Istanbul, Turkey for the Middle East.

Since then, the Ambassadors for Peace movement has grown steadily. To date, over 50,000 Ambassadors for Peace have been appointed in over 185 nations. What is an Ambassador for Peace? One receives the Ambassador for Peace certificate, not fundamentally as an award, but rather as an appointment or a commission. The certificate both honors an individual for past...