Upholding International Law for Global Peace and Future Generations

Escalating Global Threats Demand Urgent Action

 The world today faces grave and escalating crises that threaten human lives and the planet itself. From major wars to environmental emergencies, these challenges have reached an unprecedented level of danger. Scientists warn that humanity now faces *“an unprecedented level of risk”* to societies everywhere due to the *“unabated ferocity”* of conflicts and climate disasters. The Doomsday Clock remains at its closest ever point to midnight – a symbolic marker of existential peril – driven by the war in Ukraine, new conflicts in the Middle East, and record-breaking climate extremes. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has cautioned that we are living in *“a time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War”*. Indeed, the war in Ukraine not only carries the threat of nuclear escalation but has also *“hampered international efforts to deal with other global concerns”*, diverting attention and resources from issues like poverty and climate change.

The Human and Environmental Costs of Conflict

The human toll of conflict is staggering. Over 170 armed conflicts were recorded in 2023 alone, displacing nearly 120 million people by year’s end. Civilians suffer displacement, injury, and death on a massive scale, with women and children often the most vulnerable. Beyond the immediate human suffering, warfare inflicts *“immense and often-overlooked”* harm on our environment. Conflicts destroy ecosystems, pollute water and soil, and deplete natural resources, *“jeopardizing the health of our planet for generations to come”*. In Gaza, for example, recent fighting has *“completely degraded”* land, water, and agriculture, collapsing basic services and creating public health crises. Military activities also fuel climate change – studies estimate militaries account for about 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, the climate crisis itself exacerbates conflict risks by driving resource scarcity and displacement.

Confronting Global Threats: A Call for Unity and Action

These interlinked threats form a vicious cycle undermining global stability and development. The United Nations reports that escalating conflicts and climate emergencies have *“substantially affected progress towards achieving the [Sustainable Development Goals](https://sdgs.un.org/goals ),”* even reversing hard-won gains in reducing extreme poverty. In short, humanity is at a perilous crossroads. Either we continue on this destructive path – of wars, rivalry, and neglect – or we unite to change course toward peace and sustainability. The current global trajectory is morally untenable. It is inflicting profound suffering today and imperiling the very future of life on Earth. We owe it to ourselves and to our children’s children to confront these dangers with courage and cooperation.

 A Moral Obligation to Future Generations

At this fraught moment in history, our moral responsibility to future generations has never been clearer. We are the custodians of the Earth for those who will come after us. Decisions made today – whether to wage war or build peace, to exploit or protect our environment – will determine the fate of unborn generations. As the UNESCO Declaration on the Responsibilities of Present Generations solemnly affirms, *“the present generations have the responsibility of ensuring that the needs and interests of present and future generations are fully safeguarded.”* We must not leave our descendants a legacy of endless conflict, injustice, and a ravaged planet.

Intergenerational Justice and the Foundation of Peace

Fundamentally, this is about intergenerational justice. The UN Charter’s very opening pledges *“to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”*, recognizing that each generation owes the next a world free from the horrors our forebears endured. Likewise, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) proclaims that recognition of everyone's inherent dignity and equal rights *“is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”* Upholding human rights is not only a moral end in itself – it is also essential for a peaceful future. Societies that respect human dignity and the rule of law are far less likely to break down into violence.

Safeguarding Future Generations Through Sustainability and Unity

Crucially, sustainable development must be pursued even amid our crises, so that we do not sacrifice the well-being of coming generations for short-term gains. Sustainable development means meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Yet war and environmental destruction do exactly that – they compromise food security, economic stability, and ecological health for decades. The UNESCO Declaration urges present generations to *“strive for sustainable development and preserve living conditions, particularly the quality and integrity of the environment”* so that our children inherit a livable planet. It explicitly calls on us to *“spare future generations the scourge of war”* and to *“avoid exposing future generations to the harmful consequences of armed conflicts”*. In other words, we have a duty to prevent the man-made catastrophes – war, environmental collapse, nuclear devastation – that would rob those yet unborn of their right to a safe and dignified life.

World leaders are beginning to acknowledge this responsibility. In 2024, all 193 U.N. member states adopted a landmark Pact for the Future, including a Declaration on Future Generations, which commits to *“promote international stability, peace and security and to ensure peaceful, inclusive and just societies”* for the benefit of those to come. *“Our future is in our hands,”* declared the U.N. General Assembly President at that summit, emphasizing that meaningful progress requires hearing all voices and giving *“all nations – regardless of size or wealth – a seat at the table.”* This reflects a growing global consensus that no country can secure its future alone. Climate change, pandemics, nuclear proliferation – these are problems that transcend borders. International cooperation is not just idealistic rhetoric; it has become a practical necessity for survival. Only by working together, in a spirit of shared responsibility, can nations hope to solve challenges that are too vast for any one of them.

Ultimately, honoring our obligation to future generations means acting now to bend the arc of history away from destruction and towards creation. We must invest in education, diplomacy, poverty alleviation, and climate resilience – the building blocks of a peaceful and sustainable world. We must prioritize long-term human security over short-term political or territorial gains. This is a moral test of our time: whether we as a global community have the wisdom and the will to put the common good above narrow interests, so that our grandchildren can live in a world better than ours, not worse.

Upholding International Law: A Path to Peace and Justice

How do we begin to repair a fractured world and steer it toward peace? A crucial part of the answer is international law and institutions – the framework of rules and norms painstakingly built over the past century to tame the scourge of war and uphold human dignity. Every nation, large or small, bears the responsibility to uphold and respect international law. This includes the United Nations Charter, international humanitarian law, human rights law, and international criminal justice. These legal principles are humanity’s collective guardrails against barbarism. They were born from the lessons of history written in blood – from two world wars, genocides, and atrocities that showed the cost of a world without rules. Now is the time for all nations to recommit to those guardrails, not trample on them.

International law provides a common language and standard of behavior that all countries have agreed (at least on paper) to follow. As the UN has emphasized, peace, human rights, and sustainable development are all intertwined goals that must be guided by a global order based on the rule of law. No country – no matter how powerful – should consider itself above these rules. The cornerstone of the U.N. Charter is the renunciation of aggressive war: *“All Members shall refrain... from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”* This fundamental rule, enshrined in Article 2(4) of the Charter, echoes the ancient prophetic ideal of *“beating swords into plowshares”* – turning weapons of war into tools for peace. It is no coincidence that the biblical verse *“Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore”* (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3) is inscribed across from the U.N. headquarters in New York, reminding delegates and visitors alike that international law’s highest purpose is to end the cycle of war.

Key pillars of the international legal order must be strengthened and respected by all:

The Rule of Law and U.N. Charter:

The U.N. Charter and related treaties establish that disputes must be settled peacefully and that sovereignty must be respected. This rules-based framework *“delivers significant practical value by helping resolve disputes peacefully... and upholding the universal values of equality, justice, and human rights.”* It means no country should invade or attack another in violation of the Charter. It means powerful states have an obligation to lead by example in respecting these rules, and smaller states have the assurance that law, not might, should govern relations. When any nation flouts these norms – for instance, through unprovoked aggression or undermining another’s sovereignty – it jeopardizes the security of all. Upholding the international rule of law is essential for maintaining global peace, as the U.N. Secretary-General recently underscored.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL):

Even when conflicts do occur, there are rules to limit their barbarity. IHL – encapsulated in the Geneva Conventions and their protocols – protects civilians, prisoners of war, the wounded, and others not participating in hostilities. Every state in the world has ratified the Geneva Conventions, making their core provisions universal. All parties to conflict *“have an obligation to respect and ensure respect for IHL in all circumstances.”* This means no deliberate targeting of civilians, no torture or inhumane treatment, no indiscriminate bombing. Tragically, in today’s wars these laws are too often ignored, as hospitals are reduced to rubble and innocent lives lost. The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that *“respect for international humanitarian law is in crisis, threatening the very humanity these laws seek to preserve.”* Yet we must never lose sight of why these laws exist: as U.N. Chief Guterres said, IHL is *“the difference between life and death, between restraint and anarchy... between retaining our humanity and losing ourselves in horror.”* All nations and armed groups must recommit to these principles of basic humanity. Where war continues, compliance with IHL is non-negotiable – the bombing of civilians or executions of prisoners are war crimes, not tactics. States must use their influence to prevent IHL violations by their allies and to stop violations by any party. The International Court of Justice and other tribunals have held that the obligation to respect IHL is erga omnes – owed to the entire international community. In practice, this means every nation has not only a duty to follow IHL, but a duty to demand others follow it as well. By insisting on these limits in war, we preserve a semblance of morality even amid conflict and keep the door open for peace and reconciliation.

Universal Human Rights:

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and subsequent human rights treaties set fundamental standards for how states must treat their people. These include the rights to life, freedom from torture, freedom of belief and expression, and many more – applying at all times, war or peace. Respecting human rights domestically and internationally is vital to preventing conflict. When governments oppress or persecute groups, it often leads to unrest, violence, or even mass atrocities. As the UDHR’s preamble declares, *“disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind”*, whereas a world where human beings enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear is *“the highest aspiration of the common people.”* Ensuring human rights for all citizens can diffuse tensions within societies and between them. Every nation must strive to meet its human rights obligations – protecting minorities, upholding justice, and providing avenues for peaceful dissent. This not only honors our common humanity but also creates more resilient, stable societies less prone to conflict. The rule of law at the national level, with independent courts and equal justice, reinforces these rights and helps fulfill countries’ international commitments. In short, human rights and peace go hand in hand: *“recognition of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”*

Accountability and International Justice:

Law means little if it is not enforced. For too long throughout history, tyrants and warlords could commit aggression or genocide with impunity. That began to change after World War II with the Nuremberg trials and, decades later, with the establishment of international criminal courts. Today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) stands as a permanent forum to hold individuals – even heads of state – accountable for the most egregious crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. The Rome Statute of 1998, which created the ICC, was a milestone in saying no one is above the law. As the ICC itself emphasizes, it *“is participating in a global fight to end impunity”* and aims *“to hold those responsible accountable for their crimes and to help prevent these crimes from happening again.”* By prosecuting perpetrators of massacres, sexual violence, deliberate attacks on civilians, and other atrocities, international justice delivers a measure of justice to victims and deters future war criminals. Every nation should support and cooperate with international justice mechanisms – whether the ICC or special tribunals – because justice is a prerequisite for lasting peace. When grave crimes are left unpunished, it sows the seeds of future conflicts and grievance. Conversely, accountability helps societies heal. As the ICRC has noted, ending impunity serves both justice and reconciliation after conflict. Upholding justice also means supporting theInternational Court of Justice (which settles disputes between states according to law) and other judicial bodies that provide peaceful avenues to resolve even bitter disputes. We have tools to investigate war crimes, mediate disputes, and arbitrate claims – we must use them. By ensuring legal accountability, we affirm that *might does not make right*, and we create an environment where leaders think twice before choosing violence.

Taken together, these pillars – peaceful dispute resolution, humanitarian law, human rights, and international justice – form a comprehensive framework to prevent conflict and build a just peace. They are not abstract ideals; they are actionable commitments every nation can and should implement. For example, governments can incorporate IHL and human rights into their military training and domestic laws, as required by the Geneva Conventions. They can join and cooperate with the ICC to show that anyone who commits mass atrocities will face consequences. They can strengthen the U.N. by respecting Security Council resolutions and not abusing veto powers when mass atrocities are occurring. And they can support peacekeeping and mediation efforts rather than fueling proxy wars.

The international community as a whole must also demand compliance:

when a state violates international law – whether by invading a neighbor or committing atrocities – other states should not look away. They have a duty to condemn, to impose diplomatic and economic consequences, and to seek justice through the U.N. or ICC. This is how a rules-based order is upheld. As Guterres told the Security Council, *“We must never lose sight of the meaning and purpose of international humanitarian law… Where war continues, all must comply with [it]; states must investigate alleged war crimes and prosecute perpetrators… The international community must break the deadly cycle.”* In our interdependent world, an attack on the international legal order anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere.

Ending Conflicts in Accordance with International Law

After years of bloodshed and recrimination, now is the time for all conflicts, large or small, to be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law. No dispute – whether a border disagreement, an ethnic uprising, or a struggle over resources – justifies the horrors of war when legal and diplomatic alternatives exist. In every region of the world, we see conflicts that have festered for too long: some span decades, others erupted recently, but all have cost precious lives and destabilized entire regions. It is time to end them.

This means that parties to conflicts must immediately cease hostilities and come to the negotiating table. Ceasefires and peace talks should be pursued with renewed urgency, facilitated by neutral international mediators where needed. The solutions to these conflicts must be grounded in justice and international law – not simply might or whim. Borders should be respected or adjusted only through mutual agreement or legal adjudication, not force. Ethnic or religious communities seeking rights must have those addressed through constitutional and legal guarantees, not by taking up arms. Governments confronting insurgencies must do so within the law – addressing legitimate grievances and protecting civilians, rather than scorched-earth campaigns. In all cases, civilian protection and human rights must be paramount during transitions from war to peace.

The size or type of conflict does not matter; *every* conflict must be resolved. Whether it is a superpower standoff or a small civil war, the people caught in the crossfire deserve relief. Great powers have a special responsibility to lead in this effort. They should set aside zero-sum geostrategic games and recognize that a world wracked by endless proxy wars and rivalry is in no one’s long-term interest. Global powers must cooperate to pressure warring parties to lay down arms, rather than fueling conflicts with weapons and rhetoric. Regional organizations – from the African Union to the European Union – also have critical roles in conflict resolution and should coordinate with the U.N. to broker peace deals consistent with international law.

Importantly, ending conflict *“in accordance with international law”* also means dealing with the root causes and *aftereffects* of war in a lawful way. It is not enough to silence the guns; we must also ensure accountability, reconstruction, and reconciliation. Peace agreements should incorporate provisions for justice – such as tribunals or truth commissions – so that victims see redress and war criminals face consequences. Wartime atrocities cannot simply be amnestied without any accountability, as that risks sowing the seeds of future violence. Where appropriate, cases should be referred to the ICC or special courts to handle genocide or crimes against humanity. Additionally, international law-guided peacebuilding demands assisting refugees and displaced persons to return home safely or resettle with dignity, in line with refugee law and human rights obligations. It involves clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance, as required by humanitarian treaties, to make former warzones safe for civilians. It requires rebuilding schools, hospitals, and infrastructure destroyed by war – fulfilling the right to development and well-being for affected populations.

We have precedents that show the way. International law helped end apartheid in South Africa through global sanctions and U.N. resolutions, avoiding a potential civil war. Indeed, international mediation and law have resolved many conflicts: the International Court of Justice has settled border disputes peacefully (e.g. between Cameroon and Nigeria); U.N.-backed negotiations ended the Iran-Iraq War in 1988 and brought peace to conflicts in Mozambique, El Salvador, and Cambodia in the 1990s. Just recently, a U.N.-brokered truce helped halt fighting in Yemen, bringing hope to millions suffering there. These successes happened when the international community united to demand negotiation and respect for legal norms, rather than picking sides to fuel fighting. We must summon that spirit again for today’s wars – whether in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa or elsewhere. The U.N. Security Council, despite divisions, still wields tools like peacekeeping missions and sanctions that can support peace processes, and it must use them proactively.

The costs of not ending conflicts now are simply too high. As the U.N. Secretary-General put it, *“War is devastating lives around the world”*, and it is past time to *“find political solutions to war”* and *“intensify conflict prevention efforts”*. If wars continue, they will continue to destabilize entire regions, spawn terrorism, worsen famine (conflict is now a leading cause of hunger), and distract from urgent cooperation on climate change and disease. They also raise the frightening prospect of direct confrontations between major powers – something humanity narrowly avoided during the Cold War and must avoid now. Every day that a war continues, the risk grows of a mistake or escalation that could spiral into a larger conflagration. We have seen missiles mistakenly hit neighboring territories, near-accidents between rival militaries, and inflammatory rhetoric on all sides. We may not be able to keep dodging the bullets of miscalculation or accident. Thus, world leaders must act with the urgency that our fragile global peace requires.

Concretely, *all* nations – and especially those directly or indirectly involved in conflicts – should heed the call of international law: end conflicts through dialogue, negotiation, and lawful means. Honor existing peace agreements, or forge new ones, under the auspices of international mediators. Use the International Court of Justice or arbitration to resolve territorial disputes rather than fighting over them. Adhere to U.N. resolutions demanding ceasefires or humanitarian access. Support U.N. diplomacy and peace operations with funding and political backing. If we collectively insist that every conflict can be solved at the conference table and not the battlefield, we can break the cycle of war. As a global community, we must replace the old ethos of *“might makes right”* with one of right makes might – where the legitimacy of a cause comes from law and justice, not force of arms. This shift is both moral and practical: it creates a more stable world where countries trust that their security will not be upended by violence.

 A Prophetic Vision: Nations Living in Peace and Security

Thousands of years ago, at a time of turmoil and war, the prophet Micah offered a vision of hope – a vision that speaks directly to our own age of anxiety. He foresaw a day when people *“will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks”*, when *“Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more”* (Micah 4:3). In that era of peace, as Micah describes, *“they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid.”* This beautiful metaphor – each person resting unafraid under the shade of their tree – symbolizes true security, prosperity, and contentment. It is a state where every nation and every individual can enjoy the fruits of their labor in peace, without fear of violence or oppression.

Today, we must reclaim that prophetic vision of peace and security for all nations. Imagine a world where every country – large or small – can exist without threat, where peoples’ lives are not upended by sirens and shelling, but instead parents can raise their children in stability and hope. That is not a naive fantasy; it is exactly the future that international law and cooperation strive to build. We have seen glimpses of it in periods of sustained peace and development. It is the kind of world our ancestors longed for, from the ancient prophets to the founders of the United Nations. Micah’s vision resonates as a moral compass: it reminds us that the ultimate goal is not dominance or revenge, but for each nation to be secure “under its own vine and fig tree” – essentially, to thrive on its own terms, in harmony with others, free from fear.

Yet, even as Micah prophesied that hopeful future, he also issued warnings about the present. *“Now many nations are gathered against you,”* he wrote, reveling in Jerusalem’s distress. We can relate: in our world, we see nations arrayed against each other, forming rival blocs, sometimes seemingly eager to humble or *“desecrate”* their foes. But Micah adds: *“They do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand His plan”* (Micah 4:12). In other words, those who plot war and destruction fail to grasp the greater moral arc that bends toward justice and peace. Ultimately, schemes of aggression are futile, for a just peace is the destiny of humanity. The forces of violence will be “gathered like sheaves to the threshing floor” (Micah 4:12) – a vivid image that suggests those who live by the sword will face judgment.

This scriptural wisdom teaches humility to any nation that would trample others, and it offers comfort to those under threat: the cycle of aggression is not the final word. There is a divine or moral mandate for peace that stands above the ambitions of militarists. It is time now for all nations to heed that mandate – to beat our swords into plowshares, to transform instruments of death into tools of life. It is time for all peoples *“to sit under their own trees’ shadows without fear or threats,”* as Micah envisions, each respecting the other’s sovereignty and rights. The Bible’s ancient hope aligns with our modern yearning: a world where no mother has to fear her child will be killed by a bomb, where no community is driven from its home, where no leader rattles sabers, and where the resources now spent on tanks and missiles are rechanneled to schools, hospitals, and clean energy.

Lest someone think this is purely idealistic, remember that international cooperation has made the once-impossible seem possible before. Nations that were mortal enemies have reconciled and now live side by side in peace – France and Germany, Japan and the United States, South Africa’s multi-ethnic democracy, to name a few. The European Union, flawed though it may be, is a real example of swords into plowshares: centuries of bloodshed gave way to unprecedented peace and integration. Land once scarred by trenches and barbed wire is now connected by trade and travel. This shows that former foes can indeed find security under their own vine and fig tree, *together* without fear. We must extend this logic to all regions and conflicts today.

International law and justice are the vehicles by which Micah’s vision can be realized. They provide the agreed norms and processes for nations to coexist peacefully. They are the plowshares forged from the swords of war – converting brute force into legal frameworks and dialogues. When nations submit disputes to the ICJ instead of mobilizing armies, when they sign treaties to disarm and cooperate, when they invest in development instead of destruction, they are effectively sitting under their fig tree rather than lunging at their neighbor.

Of course, achieving this vision is no simple task. It requires strong moral leadership, mutual trust-building, and often forgiveness for past wrongs. It will demand perseverance: peace must be tended like a garden. But the difficulty of the task does not lessen its urgency or righteousness. We have lived so long under the specter of conflict that some may doubt if humanity can ever escape it entirely. Yet, every journey to peace starts with a choice in the present: a choice to say *“enough”* to bloodshed, and *“yes”* to life. We are morally obligated to make that choice today.

Conclusion: A Call to Global Unity and Peace

Standing at this crossroads of peril and opportunity, we – the nations and peoples of Earth – face a profound choice. Will we continue down the road of escalating conflict and division, risking a descent into disasters we cannot control? Or will we choose unity, law, and morality as our guides, and by doing so, carve out a better future? History will judge our generation by how we respond to this moment.

 

The case could not be more compelling or clear. War and lawlessness are a dead-end that lead only to suffering, instability, and moral ruin. In contrast, peace through cooperation and justice offers humanity a path not only to survival but to flourishing. The lives of millions alive today, and billions yet unborn, hang in the balance of this decision. We owe it to *all* of them to act with wisdom and compassion.

Every nation, regardless of its power, has a vital role to play. Leaders must replace aggression with diplomacy, uphold their legal commitments, and work in concert through the United Nations and other forums to tackle common challenges. They must remember that sovereignty is not a license to do as one pleases without consequences – rather, sovereignty is conditional on respect for the shared norms that allow all sovereignties to coexist. When states violate those norms, the international community must unite in response – not out of enmity, but out of a commitment to universal principles that protect everyone.

Meanwhile, citizens around the world also have a voice and a responsibility. We can hold our governments accountable to higher standards, advocate for humanitarian values, and extend our solidarity across borders. In a very real sense, *the world is one family*. Technology and trade have knitted us together, and climate change reminds us that we share one biosphere. Let us then treat each other as brothers and sisters, not as eternal rivals. Let us cultivate empathy – seeing our own children in the eyes of refugees and war victims, and recognizing that no human life is lesser than another. This global ethic is the foundation upon which laws and treaties ultimately rest. Without a genuine human solidarity, paperwork alone cannot guarantee peace. But with it, even the toughest agreements become possible.

It is often said that peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice and opportunity. That is our end goal: not a negative peace where guns are quiet but resentments smolder, but a positive peace where nations cooperate, peoples reconcile, and children can dream of a bright future. Achieving this will require addressing deep injustices – economic inequality, historical grievances, and power imbalances – that fuel conflict. It will also require patience and dialogue, learning to trust former adversaries. Yet, these efforts are the price of admission to a peaceful world. As the African proverb goes, *“If you want to go far, go together.”* Humanity indeed must go far, beyond the horizons of our present crises, and we can only do it together.

Let us, then, heed the ancient and enduring call of conscience. Let us break the cycles of violence and embark on the harder but nobler work of building sustainable peace. Let us ensure that the rule of law reigns internationally so that justice, not force, governs our affairs. Let us protect human rights and dignity everywhere, so no one feels that violence is their only recourse. Let us commit to resolving conflicts through law and dialogue, setting an example that future generations can follow with pride. And as we do so, let us keep Micah’s vision in our hearts: *everyone under their own vine and fig tree, with none to make them afraid*.

This is not beyond our reach. It is a future waiting to be claimed – if we are willing to summon the moral courage and collective will. The stakes could not be higher. For the sake of all who share this planet now, and all who will inherit it after us, let us choose peace, uphold the law, and act as one human family. In doing so, we fulfill both our pragmatic duty to secure survival and our profound moral duty to align with the highest ideals of humanity. The time to act is now. The eyes of future generations are upon us, and they deserve nothing less than our wholehearted commitment to leave them a world at peace, governed by justice, and brimming with the hope of a new dawn.

In the words of the Scriptures: *“Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more”*. Let us strive to make it so.