On 28 August 2013 we commemorate the centenary of the Peace Palace in the presence of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and Prime-Minister Mark Rutte. During this ceremony a book about the centenary of the Peace Palace will be presented and a bronze statue of peace activist Bertha von Suttner, as the first lady of the palace, will be unveiled by 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee from Liberia.
After 100 years the Peace Palace has become a world-wide icon of Peace and Justice. Many special events are scheduled from 28 August to 21 September, the UN Day of Peace. Through these events we want to emphasize our unwavering commitment to a better world in which conflicts are settled peacefully.
On 28 August the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise a ministerial conference on peaceful dispute resolution through the administration of justice, arbitration and mediation. This conference is chaired by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frans Timmermans. On the same day the Hague Institute for Global Justice will host a two-day conference about sustainable peacebuilding in conflict-affected settings. On 9 September a Peace Palace Hearing will take place, bringing together a range of persons who will state their academic, practical and innovative views on the Future of International Justice. The inter-religious dialogue on 11 September, moderated by Professor Ernst Hirsch Ballin will focus on the theme ”Justice and Reconciliation”. On 20 September there will be a conference in the Peace Palace chaired by Professor Jaap de Hoop Scheffer focussing on “Lessons Learned from Peace Treaties”.
The theme of peace and justice will be brought to the general public through cultural events. In the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague exhibitions will be organized about the following subjects: Women and Peace, Souvenirs from The Hague, Architecture of the Peace Palace and Peace Philanthropy. The role of philanthropists supporting initiatives which contribute to a better world will be discussed during a conference about this subject on 2 and 3 September in the Peace Palace, with in the background a fundraising gala in the Ridderzaal on 2 September.
Other institutions in The Hague also participate in this anniversary. The Historical Museum of The Hague will host an exhibition: “In light of the Peace Palace”, about The Hague at the beginning of the 20th century, and the GEM and the Alliance Française together organize “Cartooning for Peace”, an exhibition and conference during which Plantu, cartoonist of Le Monde will be present. Students of the Art Schools of The Hague and Rotterdam will exhibit the posters they designed about the theme (Un)Limited in the Spui tram tunnel.
In the week of 14-21 September the palace garden will be the venue of a number of important performances: Pink Project (14/9), Trijntje Oosterhuis and the Residentie Orkest (15/9), The Voice of Peace (17/9), Korenavond (18/9) and in conclusion on the international UN Day of Peace (21/9), the Peace One Day concert. This concert will be hosted by British actor Jude Law and organised by non-profit organisation Peace One Day, founded by Jeremy Gilley.
The Peace Palace houses the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration as well as the renowned Peace Palace Library, the Hague Academy of International Law and the Carnegie Foundation. For 100 years the Peace Palace has played an important role in peaceful dispute resolution. In and around the palace every day thousands of people work on a safer and more just world. The celebration of the centenary of the Peace Palace is an initiative of the Carnegie Foundation, the Municipality of The Hague and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For the complete program and more information please refer to the website: vredepaleis.nl/100 jaar
Contact:
For general information
Carnegie Foundation
HYPERLINK “mailto:secretariat@carnegie-stichting.nl” secretariat@carnegie-stichting.nl
070-3024177
