Director-General's remarks for the International Day of Conscience

International Day of Conscience
Thursday, 2 April 2026, at 10.00 a.m.
Tempus, Palais des Nations

Delivered on behalf of the Director-General
by Ms. Lidiya Grigoreva, Cheffe de Cabinet, Office of the Director-General,
United Nations Office at Geneva

Excellences,
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Chers jeunes participantes et participants,

C’est un grand plaisir de vous accueillir au Palais des Nations pour la Journée internationale de la conscience, au nom de Mme Tatiana Valovaya, Directrice générale de l’Office des Nations Unies à Genève, qui ne peut malheureusement être pami nous aujourd’hui.

Je tiens également à remercier chaleureusement les organisateurs de cet événement, en particulier l’ONG Alliance Internationale des Objectifs de Développement Durable, ainsi que l’ensemble des partenaires pour leur contribution à la tenue de cette Journée.

Nous sommes réunis ici pour rappeler l'importance de la conscience, à la fois individuelle et collective, dans un monde confronté à de profondes tensions. Je me réjouis donc tout particulièrement de voir autant de jeunes participantes et participants aujourd’hui. Votre énergie, vos idées et votre engagement sont essentiels pour façonner l’avenir et la paix.

The International Day of Conscience was established by the UN General Assembly in 2019 and is observed annually on 5 April. On this day, we are all invited to reflect on the role of conscience as a guiding force for peace, tolerance, and mutual respect. It reminds us of our shared humanity and of the inherent dignity of every individual.

This year’s conference on the theme “Peace 2.0 - Reinventing peace with youth”, emphasizes the viral role of young people in advancing peace. Across regions, youth voices are calling for justice, respect for the environment, and new forms of solidarity.

The role of youth is fully recognized within the United Nations. The appointment of Dr. Felipe Paullier in 2023, the first ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs - whom you will hear from shortly - marked an important milestone in this regard. It strengthened the institutional voice of youth within the Organization, ensuring that their perspectives are reflected and promoting their meaningful participation as a driver of sustainable peace and development.

Education for peace plays a crucial role in this effort, helping young people develop the skills and values needed to understand and resolve conflicts peacefully and build more inclusive societies.

The participation of representatives from local, regional, and national governments, civil society, academia, peace advocates, researchers, and the artists in today’s event demonstrates the diversity of actors committed to dialogue and peaceful coexistence. This diversity reflects the many ways in which a culture of peace can be nurtured.

Traditionally, peace has often been associated with deterrence. On this International Day of Conscience, we are reminded that lasting and sustainable peace depends not only on security measures but also on mutual understanding and our collective ability to address inequalities, grievances and fears in a peaceful and constructive manner.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015, to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030, bring together the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, development and human rights. They provide a shared framework for action by States, international organizations and civil society. The UN Office at Geneva is proud to serve as a hub for dialogue across all these areas, offering a unique platform for dialogue and constructive engagement among all stakeholders, as exemplified by today’s meeting.

Je remercie une nouvelle fois l’ensemble des partenaires, et tout particulièrement les jeunes impliqués dans cette Journée. Votre engagement contribue à créer des espaces de dialogue et à renforcer la compréhension mutuelle et à faire progresser la paix.

Je vous souhaite des échanges constructifs et enrichissants pour cette édition 2026.