International Day of Conscience 2025: Leave No One Behind
A Call to Action for a Culture of Peace
The International Day of Conscience (IDC25), observed on April 5th, was established in 2019 by the United Nations General Assembly to foster a culture of peace through love and conscience. Resolution 73/329 highlighted the urgency of a mindset shift to address global challenges, including the devastating realities of poverty and hunger, which claim a child's life every eleven seconds. This resolution's inclusion of love as a foundational principle represents a pioneering step in UN discourse.
In September 2024, UN Member States signed the Pact for the Future, committing themselves to a brighter future for humanity based on multilateralism, the UN Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They reaffirmed their commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, acknowledging the critical implementation gap hindering progress towards its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The principle of "Leave No One Behind" was unanimously adopted as a guiding principle for all of civil society. Success hinges on global collaboration and individual action.
IDC25: A Global Intergenerational Dialogue
The International Day of Conscience offers a platform for reflection and action to realize "Leave No One Behind." To this end, a pivotal meeting will take place at UN Headquarters in Geneva on April 4th, 2025. This intergenerational and intercontinental brainstorming session will:
* Ground global action in the core values of the UN Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
* Promote the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) initiative, recognizing the critical role of personal attitudes and skills in achieving sustainable solutions.
* Recognize the importance of conscience and love, as enshrined in Resolution 73/329, emphasizing care for every member of the global community through creative actions.
Bringing Conscience and Love to Life
The IDC25 celebration will feature remarkable participation from:
* Dr. Denis Mukwege, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
* 12 Young Leaders LoveForce Award (YLLFA) recipients from each continent, representing the "One Young Humanity Team" and committed to "Leave No One Behind." This reflects the UN Secretary-General's call for meaningful youth engagement.
* UN officials, UNESCO ambassadors, the Mayor of Geneva, indigenous leaders, sustainability experts, spiritual activists, artists, writers, and meditators.
Walk the Talk: Building a Peaceful Future
The IDC25 celebration is a call to action to embody the principles of the UN Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 2030 Agenda, Pact for the Future, UN Security Council resolution 1325, and other vital commitments. It's a reminder of the transformative power of conscience and love in achieving just, peaceful, and healthy societies. As Mahatma Gandhi and Sofia Stril-Rever remind us: "Be the change you want to see in the world," and "Be the love you want to see in the world." Violence is not inevitable; peaceful, just societies are achievable through the collective efforts of individuals.
One Earth. One Family. One Future.
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