The Hague Appeal for Peace
From the 11th to the 15th of May, 10000 people from 100 countries, representatives of 600 non governmental organisations, simple citizens, young people and children, even ministers of foreign affairs, Nobel Prize winners, professors, personalities of international prestige and heads of international organisations participated in the “The Hague Appeal for Peace”.
Just before the end of the 20th century, the cruellest century in the history of humanity, and just before the rise of the 21st century, the global society of citizens realised a magnificent Conference for Peace in Hagen, dedicated to the children and in young people, whom the new century exclusively belongs to.
From Greece, the participants in the Conference were the “Foundation for the Child and the Family”, and the “ELPIDA” Association of Friends of Children with Cancer.
In her speech, in the opening of the Conference, the President of the two organisations, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, referred to the culture of peace pointing out that “peace cannot be imposed, cannot be a summit decision; it can only to be born from the base, because up to now, all the laws and decisions concerning peace as well as those against violence were not effective, due to the fact that the mentality stayed the same”. As a basic means of action for the change of this mentality it is proposed to incorporate the culture of peace in the educational programmes as well as to intensify the fight of illiteracy.
Within the frame of the Conference, a round table discussion was organised by the “Foundation for the Child and the Family” and the “ELPIDA Association”, with the topic “The effects of radiation in children’s health”. The speakers of the round table were Mrs Katherine Metaxotou, Professor of the Medical Faculty of Athens University, Mr Fredrik Heffermehl, Vice-President of the International Peace Bureau, Mr Michel Fernex, Professor of the University of Vasilia and Member of the Board of Trustees of the “International Physicians for the prevention of nuclear war”, Mrs Linda Walker, Director of the “Chernobyl’s children” project.
As all the speakers stressed, the fact that radioactivity has very serious impacts not only on children’s health of today but also on the health of the next generations, it is very essential that the international community takes active measures for the prevention of nuclear accidents, the direct aid for the victims of radioactivity as well as the reinforcement of research programmes on the prevention of health issues related to radioactivity.
It is worth noting that “The Hagen Appeal for Peace” was organised by 74 international institutions, such as International Amnesty, the Red Cross, the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA), the International Peace Bureau (IPB), the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy (WFM), the Earth Action International, the European Action Council for Peace in the Balkans, the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, the United Nations of Youth, Women for Peace etc. Personalities of international prestige participated, such as the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Professor Joseph Rotblat, Elie Wiesel, Jody Williams, Mairead Maguire Corrigan, Jose Ramos Horta, Graca Machel, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Alfredo Perez Esquivel, Maj-Britt Theorin, Norman Borlaug, Dr Bernard Lown, Christa Wolf, Sir Peter Ustinov, Queen Noor of Jordan, Sheikh Hasina, Kofi Annan, Carol Bellamy, Arudhati Roy, etc. The agenda on the Peace and the Justice in the 21st century was formed based on four fundamental axes:
1. Reinforcement of the institutions and laws that protect the human rights.
2. Promotion of peaceful solution of the arguments and prevention of violent conflicts.
3. Development of the efforts for disarming including the suppression of nuclear weapons.
4. Investigation of the causes of war and development of the culture of peace.
“The Hague Appeal for Peace” began and ended with triumphs and as the international press commented, it constitutes a mark for the World Peace Movement.
The political mottos and the flags were left aside. The delegates focused on the search for practical solutions for ceasing fire and establishing peace.
It was for the first time that the new diplomacy model was presented in such a spectacular way; the model which, in the closing ceremony of the Conference, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, characterised as the “revolution of the non governmental organisations”.
“The Hague Appeal for Peace” summarised and expanded the initiative of the citizens of the world society to start a dialogue directly with the leaders, the governments and the international organisations so that they all collaborate for the establishment of peace and justice in the world.
The promise, wish and appeal of Hague was:
“PEACE IS A HUMAN RIGHT; IT IS ONLY COLLECTIVELY THAT WE CAN DEFEND IT AND WE WILL DO IT”.
The Hague Agenda for Peace and Justice for the 21st Century. Conference Edition.
- 2011
- UNESCO Heads of States Forum
- There is HOPE!
- Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"
- International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".
- Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.
- Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
- 2010
- Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
- The Global Forum against human trafficking.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.
- Makistos smiles again!
- 83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
- An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- International campaign supporting Greece.
- The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
- 2009
- Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.
- Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.
- Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference «Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the World» and the Cairo Declaration.
- International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.
- Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
- 2008
- The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.
- Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.
- Universal call for the Climate Change.
- The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.
- The appeal of Ancient Olympia.
- The “Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies” in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
- 2007
- 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- The Chart of Paris against cancer.
- The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.
- Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.
- Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.
- International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.
- Global Humanitarian Forum.
- Makistos smiles again.
- 2006
- Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".
- Fundraising Dinner to support the “End Human Trafficking Now” global campaign.
- The "Athens Principles" in Davos.
- International Center for Peace Studies.
- Protecting youth from drugs.
- The Multicultural Children Centre “Athina” in Belgrade.
- 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
- 2005
- Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.
- The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.
- The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- 2004
- Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.
- International Conference “Women in the Service of Peace” in Paris.
- International Conference “Women defending Peace” in Geneva.
- 2003
- 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.
- Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.
- Exhibition “The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon”, at UNESCO.
- The Mentor Awards.
- Awards to mothers.
- 2002
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.
- Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.
- The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
- 2001
- The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
- 2000
- A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.
- The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.
- The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.
- 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.
- Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
- 1999
- By the side of mothers and children behind bars.
- Juvenile disappearance and abduction.
- The Hague Appeal for Peace.
- International Conference “Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century” in Paris.
- Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.
- By the side of the earthquake victims.
- International Conference “Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet”.
- 1998
- A three-point shot for a life.
- European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".
- Family and the mass media.
- Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
- 1997
- International Conference “Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe”.
- By the side of the children of Xanthi.
- Embracing children suffering from AIDS.
- The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.