Of all the frontiers where the advance to a culture of peace is needed, perhaps the most important in the long term is the development of children. They are thrust directly into factories and farms or even onto the streets. And schools often sustain and help reproduce the injustice and violence of society, including both structural and physical violence. Schools should rather be bastions for the p
rotection of children and their rights; a place where they should feel cared for and where they can cultivate the knowledge, values and skills they need in order to create a world where justice and solidarity will reign supreme. UNESCO took the lead in the campaign for the promotion of peace and non-violence in education right from its establishment by constructing peace in the minds of men and women. The relevant principles have been elaborated in instruments such as the 1974 UNESCO recommendation concerning Education for International Understanding, Co-operation and Peace, education relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Declaration and Integrated Framework of Action on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Democracy (1995), and the 1996-2001 Medium-term Strategy of UNESCO which emphasizes the building of a culture of peace. These are also reflected in the 1996 report of the UNESCO Commission on Education for the 21st Century. Against the backdrop of rising tensions and youth restiveness all over the world, Youth for Transparency International, an international organisation with special status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, wishes to present the inaugural edition of Non-Violent Film and Documentary Award (NOVIA). NOVIA which would be an annual event seeks to be a major global platform in the establishment of a culture of peace and non-violence in young people through an online forum. This forum would drive a sustainable civil debate through innovative non-violent films and documentaries - focusing on positivity that inspires and galvanizes young people and groups to change their thoughts, emotions and behaviour. This forum will thus deliver globally responsible citizens who will demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit and who will be passionate about providing good leadership in the future into the bargain. It will lead to a radical transformation from the culture of negative human emotions like fear, greed, and jealousy which have dominated the film industry which places a premium on vice to a culture of positive human emotions like peace, love, joy, loyalty and compassion which are expressed through respect for human rights, democracy, inter cultural understanding, tolerance and solidarity. This award will project and celebrate peaceful co-existence on a global scale. Declarations and legal measures are not sufficient to bring about the desired change. A culture of compassion and love for each other must grow out of the beliefs and traditions of the people themselves.
