The concept of the culture of peace appeared in the decade of the 80s of the 20th century, when the processes of democratic transition began to take place in the world, it was built as a historical and dynamic process, the product of deep reflections of sociology and cultural anthropology. .

In accordance with the Declaration and Program of Action on the Culture of Peace, which was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1999, in Art. 1 defines the culture of peace as a set of values, behaviors, habits based on respect for life, cessation of violence, full respect and promotion of all human rights, opportunities and fundamental freedoms.

The message and the messenger

lives behind bars

Today, in the 21st century, it seems that the world, despite its technological progress, is regressing in these values ​​that are the basis of peaceful coexistence. Instead, we experience the indiscriminate use of irrational violence in all senses, the destruction of the social fabric, an economic model with the market as the only reference, and a political system with short-term values.

However, not everything is hopeless because my administration in the House of Culture, the core of Guayas, wants to send a different message: living in peace is possible, if we start to join forces, implement concrete preventive actions through art, maintain and increase cultural centers, create inter-institutional agendas, which go towards building social justice, solidarity, respect and tolerance, where culture plays a dominant role.

Tribute to Carlos Calderon

I invite you to build a culture of peace, where we educate for peace and transform violence into creative possibilities…

For example, one of our emblematic programs is Art for a Culture of Peace, which contains several projects and lines of action aimed at non-violence, interculturality and intergenerationalism. Among the main lines of action, we promote intercultural dialogue, reading, development of thinking, creativity, soft skills such as empathy, awareness, care, principles and values. We sow hope in hundreds of children and young people in the midst of so much darkness, fear and mistrust.

The purpose is to make art and culture the protagonist of the everyday life of citizens.

As an institution, we oppose any idea or thought that claims that the only way to resolve conflicts is through violence, hence the importance of knowing history, social memory and creating a sense of relevance and identity in our communities. Therefore, we must build bridges of dialogue, not walls that separate us. We bet on art, culture, solidarity and brotherhood of all, because this country can only be saved if we bet on the unity of our society and not on segregation and separation.

The path of peace, reconciliation and coexistence, on which we can all put common values ​​above our own. I invite you to build a culture of peace, where we educate for peace and transform violence into creative opportunities for our children and youth to be better human beings.

Join the fight for art and culture. (OR)