Online Reporter
PEACE is often imagined as the silence that follows the end of war.
Yet, as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) reminded us on the International Day of Peace on September 21, peace is not simply the absence of conflict.
It is the daily work of societies to confront disagreement without violence, protect human dignity and keep dialogue open even as tensions rise.
In today’s world – marked by displacement, hate speech, polarisation and systemic discrimination – the challenge of building peace has never been greater.
For over 80 years, Unesco has worked to nurture peace through education, culture, freedom of expression and dialogue.
Its message is clear: peace is never secured once and for all; it must be built continuously through our institutions, relationships and daily choices. Education is one of the most powerful tools for cultivating peace.
Schools, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and universities are not only places of learning, but also spaces where values of tolerance, inclusion and dialogue are nurtured.
To support this, there is an urgent need to integrate disability rights and Ubuntu values into teaching and learning.
Ubuntu – the African philosophy emphasising collective well-being and humanity’s interconnectedness – provides a vital cultural foundation for peace.
It reminds us that “I am because we are” and that the dignity of each individual strengthens the resilience of the whole community.
For persons with disabilities, Ubuntu offers a powerful counternarrative to exclusion, affirming that their participation is essential to a healthy society.
When we embed Ubuntu into all facets of life, peace ceases to be an abstract concept and becomes a lived reality through daily acts of solidarity.
Unesco’s warning about discrimination and hate speech is particularly relevant where marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities, face ongoing exclusion.
When societies actively confront stigma and dismantle stereotypes, they lay the groundwork for lasting peace.
Inclusion is not merely about fairness – it is about preventing the social fractures that escalate into conflict.
By ensuring that persons with disabilities, women and other marginalised groups participate fully in decision-making, communities build trust and reduce the risk of violence.
Economic inclusion is equally vital.
Persons with disabilities frequently encounter barriers to employment and income generation.
Developing sustainable livelihoods that benefit marginalised groups – ranging from recycling cooperatives to eco-tourism projects – creates jobs while protecting the environment.
When households with persons with disabilities have stable incomes and communities benefit from sustainable projects, they are better equipped to withstand shocks and resolve disputes peacefully.
Peace, therefore, is not only a political or cultural goal, but an economic necessity.
Inclusive communication is essential to this mission.
In societies where political polarisation strains communities, open dialogue is necessary for reconciliation and progress.
Integrating sign language and accessible communication practices ensures that dialogue reaches everyone, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Dialogue is more than conversation; it is the willingness to listen, respect differences and seek common ground.
For persons with disabilities, accessible dialogue is the gateway to full civic participation, empowering everyone to act as peace-builders in their families, communities and institutions.
Ultimately, peace is not a distant dream – it is a daily practice.
It is built through the choices we make to include rather than exclude, to listen rather than silence and to empower rather than marginalise.
We must continue to invest in education, livelihoods and inclusive governance to strengthen collective resilience.
Peace is inseparable from justice and we must commit to building a world where every person’s dignity – especially that of persons with disabilities – is protected.
As Unesco affirms, peace is never secured once and for all.
The task before us is clear: to make peace not just a goal, but a way of life, ensuring that persons with disabilities are at the very heart of this journey.
Dr Christine Peta is a disability, public health, policy, international development and research expert. She can be contacted on: [email protected]
