UNESCO. General Conference; 30th; Records ... - unesdoc - Unesco

20.4 We would also like, on this occasion, to appeal to all the countries, organizations and individuals here
present, to band together to fight this hard battle with the aim of eliminating once and for all the tragic effect of
conflicts and achieve universal stability. For this purpose, it is imperative to promote energetically the culture of
peace, without delay. This is the mission of UNESCO. This is our mission.
20.5 In this context, we would like to draw attention to this UNESCO initiative that provides us with an
opportunity to reflect on a culture of peace and good governance in Africa. From this reflection resulted DEMOS
AFRICA. At the same time, the holding of this Conference on the eve of celebrating the International Year for
the Culture of Peace, and the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of
the World, offers new possibilities for us to promote and encourage new strategies for building up a lasting
peace. We commend the strategic vision of UNESCO in adopting the transdisciplinary project for a culture of
peace. It is, of course, a project that, given its multiform nature and its new perception concerning the challenge
of peace, greatly encourages and stimulates us to try, through pluridisciplinary approaches, to grapple with and
understand the causes of conflicts. We must try to eradicate violence, social exclusion and the conflict, and save
future generations from the horrors of war.
20.6 Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Mozambique fully shares the ideals of UNESCO, especially
concerning the promotion of a culture of peace. I would also like to stress that the peace enjoyed by my country
since the General Peace Agreement was signed on 4 October 1992 continues its consolidation day by day. Thus,
after the success of the first general multiparty elections in 1994, our Government, inspired by the objectives,
programme and strategies of the culture of peace is now accelerating its march towards the democratization of the
country with the purpose of guaranteeing effective peace. It was in this context that we organized in 1998 our
first municipal elections, which opened a space not only for a major decentralization of power but also for the
increasing participation of citizens in the management of day-to-day social problems, an effective means of
consolidating peace. We are convinced that progress in both peace and the democratization process is
irreversible and that it corresponds to the most legitimate desire of the people.
20.7 At this present moment, as I address Your Excellencies, significant progress has been and is being
achieved in the preparation of the second general presidential and legislative elections, which are to take place on
3 and 4 December of this year. These national elections show our readiness and determination to build and
maintain peace and political stability through the consolidation of democracy. As we realize that peace and
democracy means more than just elections, we have encouraged a permanent dialogue and called for the
participation of everybody in the social, political and economic management of the State, thus eliminating
sources of intolerance, tension and conflicts. In addition, guided by UNESCO’s objectives and especially by the
transdisciplinary approach to culture and peace, we have laid the emphasis on plurisectoral policies in areas such
as education, health, culture and information with the aim of helping the most vulnerable social groups, who are
our top priority.
20.8 The Government of my country sees youth as the driving force for change and the assurance of the
society of tomorrow. Thus it has spared no effort to frame policies for the benefit of young people, who make up
the majority of the population of Mozambique. It is in this context that we initiated consultations with young
people for the definition of regulations for youth organizations and the establishment of a fund to support youth
initiatives. These developments reflect the efforts that the people, the Government of Mozambique and its
international partners, including UNESCO, have been making with the aim of creating a more stable society and
promoting a culture of peace in order to find the best solutions for the problems facing the country.
20.9 Madam President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the presence of UNESCO in
Mozambique is of the utmost importance in meeting the challenges that the country is facing. It is also of critical
importance for my Government. We are highly satisfied with the achievements of our cooperation with
UNESCO, in communications for example. I would like to refer with particular emphasis to our cooperation in
the field of education where UNESCO, through the International Institute for Educational Planning, has been
lending support to my country, not only in the training of qualified personnel for the Ministry of Education but
also in the consolidation of the master’s degree in management, administration and education planning offered by
the Pedagogical University.
20.10 Our cooperation with UNESCO is based on the idea that education is a factor of human development
and a decisive component in the strategy for a culture of peace. In Mozambique, we are delighted with the
assistance given by UNESCO to various activities under our strategic plan for education. Close attention was also
paid to the process of curriculum revision and to consultations aimed at integrating human rights and democracy
into the educational curriculum. We also appreciate the UNESCO initiatives for the improvement of higher
education and professional and technical training. For us Mozambicans, UNESCO’s activities in support of
distance learning and the improvement of teacher training and performance are even more relevant. We are
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