An exhibition for Peace
The fruit of a project started in 2004, Hands of Peace intends to provide contemporary testimony for the generations of tomorrow on the actors of peace in the 21st century.
Through a gallery of 30 silver portraits of known or anonymous people, the exhibition pays tribute to these people committed to a better world in order to make their voices heard and show the multiple paths of peace today in different parts of the world (India, Latin America, Bhutan, France, USA, Somalia, Burundi, Ecuadorian Amazonia and Democratic Republic of Congo…).
Séverine Desmarest, professional photographer, reminds each of these future citizens of the world that peace is a commitment of men and women, a daily struggle that comes to life in action and tenacity.
Many personalities have enthusiastically accepted to participate in this project; Stéphane Hessel, Denis Mukwege Nobel Peace Prize 2018, Sharon Stone, Raoni Metuktire, Barbara Hendriks…
UNESCO is an official partner of the Hands for Peace. Since the beginning of the project, UNESCO has supported the Hands of Peace, which fully carries the spirit of its peace education actions.
The objectives of the exhibition
- Restore a constructive meaning to the term of Peace. Hands of Peace must be a new impetus and encouragement for all those who act or want to act every day.
- Show what are the different paths of peace to build peace in the 21st century:
- Sustainable development
- The fight against poverty
- The equality of chances
- Child protection
- Help for women
- Conflict prevention
- Raise awareness among young people, especially adolescents (13-17 years old) to become actors of the new humanism.
- Encouraging this awareness among young people constitutes for UNESCO a real stake for a more just society, convinced that each of us can become a craftsman of tomorrow.
Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation
UNESCO, official partner
“Wars begin in the minds of men; and that it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be built.”
Preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO
Since its founding in 1946, UNESCO has contributed to building peace. Every day, UNESCO accompanies and supports multiple initiatives working in this direction.
UNESCO has become convinced that its greatest victory will undoubtedly be the realization by everyone that we can be actors of peace.
With these forty portraits of famous or anonymous people who have dedicated their lives to working for peace, UNESCO intends to draw everyone’s attention to the extraordinary success of international initiatives and the tremendous hope that UNESCO has in everyone.
“Peace Summit Award” 2013 for its action in favor of the fight against AIDS
A traveling exhibition and publication of a beautiful book
Since the beginning of the project, UNESCO has supported the Hands of Peace, which fully carries the spirit of its peace education actions. Exhibited in November 2017 on the UNESCO gates in Paris during the 39th UNESCO General Conference, the photographs have since been exhibited at the United Nations Office in Geneva, at the Lausanne cathedral, at the Cannes Film Festival, at the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud …
The publication of a beautiful book in both French and English versions is planned by Flammarion editions, a historic publishing house founded in 1875 which is the leading publisher of fine books in France. Member of the Colbert Committee, they have acquired a reputation for excellence in the field of fine books exploring the fine arts sector, particularly photography.
The beautiful book and the Unesco exhibition will be presented in Paris, Geneva, Brussels and New York in prestigious locations.
Fulani ethnic group, protection of the environment and protection of human rights and indigenous peoples
Themes and personalities of the Hands of Peace
Dialogue between peoples
- Stephane Hessel, France – Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Barbara Hendricks, Sweden/USA – Goodwill Ambassador – Peace and Reconciliation Foundation
- Henri Borlant, France – Association Témoignages pour la mémoire, Foundation for the memory of the Deportation
- Lakhdar Brahimi, Algeria – Special jury prize of the Fondation Chirac for conflict prevention
- Giuseppina Nicolini, Italy – aid to refugees from Lampedusa, Unesco Houpouhët Boigny Prize 2017
Child protection / Support for women
- Sharon Stone, USA – 2013 “Peace Prize” for his commitment to the fight against AIDS
- Forest Whitetaker, USA – UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador (2011) – International Institute for Peace
- Marie De la Soudière, France – Thead of Hope for Economic Advancement, Reintegration of war victims
- Marguerite Barankitsé, Burundi – UNESCO Prize – Maison Shalom, Help for children of war, AIDS, the streets or prisons
- Claudia Cabral, Brésil – Terra dos Homens, street children or breaking up the family
- Estella de Carlotto, Argentine – The Grandmothers of the Place de Mai, children stolen during the dictatorship
- Dzongsar Khyentse, Bhoutan – Lotus Outreach International, helping abused women and children
- Asha Hagi Helmi, Somalie – Alternative Nobel Prize – Save Somali Women and Children
- Docteur Denis Mukwege, République Démocratique du Congo – UN Human Rights Prize (2008), Sakharov Prize (2014), Nobel Peace Prize 2018
- Tawakkol karman, Yémen – Nobel Peace Prize 2011
Fight against poverty
- Xavier Emmanuelli, France – SAMU Social
- Père Pedro Opeka, Argentine – Founder of the Akamasoa association in Madagascar
- Bibi Russel, Bangladesh – UNESCO Artist for Peace – Bibi Productions, for the development of the artisanal heritage of Bengal
- Bunker Roy, Inde – Barefoot College – Literacy, Education and Training
- Père Ceyrac, France – Père Ceyrac Association, helping the most disadvantaged
- Amma Amaritanandamayi, India – Gandhi-King Prize for Non-Violence – NGO Embracing The World with humanitarian and ecological purposes
Sustainable development
- Jose Gualinga, Amazonie Équatorienne – Edge of life, protection of the Ecuadorian forest
- Vandana Shiva, Inde – Alternative Nobel Prize– Navdanya Association for Biodiversity and Water Defense
- Raoni Metuktire, Brésil – Preservation of the Amazon rainforest, its biodiversity and its indigenous culture
- Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chad – Peul ethnic group, environmental protection and protection of human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples
Interventions in disadvantaged areas
- Maria Aurora Carrillo Gullo, Colombie – UNESCO Prize for Literacy – Transformemos Foundation, education for social development and peace
- Miguel Angel Estrella, Argentine – NGO Music Hope and Orchestra for Peace Association