Practical Approaches to Peacemaking Stir Interest in France
- khwang562
- Sep 21
- 2 min read
Rennes, France – To mark the UN International Day of Peace, UPF-France, together with Association Ubuntu and several peace ambassadors, co-sponsored a program that brought a unique outlook to the theme “Act Now for a Peaceful World.” The event in the city of Rennes in western France on September 21, 2025, drew a multicultural, multigenerational audience to hear from speakers who offered a practical perspective on peacemaking.
The main speaker was Mr. Doudou Diène, a longtime peace ambassador and former special rapporteur for racism-related topics at the UN Commission on Human Rights. More recently, Mr. Diene was responsible for reviewing UNESCO’s peace education agenda. He expressed his support for UPF’s initiatives and vision for peace.
Mr. Diène spoke about his lifetime commitment to defending human rights and peace. His mission for the United Nations required him to report about situations in African countries like Rwanda, Burundi, and Congo, as well as countries in Asia and South America.
Mr. Diene said that in places where education for peace was practiced and a peace philosophy such as Ubuntu was adopted, many people were able to change their lives and leadership styles. (Ubuntu is a Zulu word meaning humanity toward others, or compassion).
Mrs. Douceline Guen is an initiator of the Association Ubuntu in France. She shared about her life as a teenager during the conflict in her country of Burundi. She was able to come as a refugee to France, to safely settle and raise a family. Her good fortune in life inspired her to dedicate herself to activism, toward bringing peace within herself, in her family, and in the society around her. She expressed the principle of Ubuntu as "I exist because you exist; your dignity is my dignity."
Mr. Patrick Jouan, vice president of UPF-France, presented the vision of the founders of UPF, which is based on the principles of interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal values. He shared about worldwide activities such as Peace Road projects and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and the underlying affirmations like “peace starts with me” and “the family is the school of love and peace." UPF cooperates with the United Nations, UNESCO, and other organizations to develop education and practices toward a culture of peace.
The three presentations stimulated a lively exchange with the audience, leading to the conclusion that even in the face of today’s many conflicts, the desire for peace is strong.
