High-Level Opening Ceremony: Peace in Action

As the world faces accelerating change, rising tensions, deepening inequalities and polarization – between regions, nations, and within societies alike – even the pursuit of peace is facing profound tests. From ongoing wars to new domains and forms of violence, few regions of the world remain untouched. The threat of violence – whether overt or insidious – is becoming an all-too-familiar presence for a growing number of people, across generations and from all walks of life.

In this context, peacebuilding actors navigate new levels of financial and existential uncertainty. Meanwhile emerging – and at times competing – approaches to peace introduce additional challenges. In addition, multilateral hubs like Geneva themselves feel the impact of these global tensions – yet they continue to offer unique spaces for dialogue and collective action at a time when they are most needed.

Against this backdrop, this High-Level Opening Ceremony marking the start of the 12th edition of the Geneva Peace Week will set a pragmatic yet resolute tone under this year’s guiding theme, “Peace in Action.” It will seek glimmers of hope and draw inspiration from those who continue to advance peace, often in the face of great adversity. Acknowledging the scale of the challenges before us, it will offer a moment to reflect on the responses they demand — and on the actions, both individual and collective, that can make a difference.

Hosted at the Maison de la Paix (“House of Peace”) in Geneva – a city long dedicated to dialogue – this ceremony will resonate as a call to action. It will reaffirm that, even in uncertain times, the pursuit of peace remains our shared responsibility and a source of collective strength.

This opening ceremony is Organized by the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform in partnership with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland (FDFA) and the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).

Introductory Remarks

• H.E. Mr. Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
• H.E. Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, United Nations
• H.E. Mr. Thomas Greminger, President, Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, Director, Geneva Centre for Security Policy

Peace Message

• Mr. Pierre Krähenbühl, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross

Discussion with the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform Board Members

• H.E. Mr. Thomas Greminger, Director, Geneva Centre for Security Policy and President of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform Board
• H.E. Ms. Nathalie Chuard, Director, Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance
• H.E. Mr. Tobias Privitelli, Director, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
• Mr. Itonde Kakoma, President and CEO, Interpeace
• Ms. Hiba Qasas, Founding Executive Director, Principles for Peace

Moderated by

•  Prof. Achim Wennmann, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Geneva Graduate Institute

Youth Message

• Ms. Olivia Bornyi, Co-President of Peacebuilding Initiative, Geneva Graduate Institute

Master of Ceremonies

• Dr. Annyssa Bellal, Executive Director, Geneva Peacebuilding Platform