Connection with
United Nations
The Ashland Culture of Peace Commission represents a new infrastructure for Peace in the US
and the world, and stands on the shoulders of many at the United Nations, UNESCO and Pathways To Peace.
The United Nations in a series of resolutions and programs for the 21st Century, called for a transition from the culture of war to a culture of peace.
In 1999 the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace (A/RES/53/243). During the International Year for the Culture of Peace in the Year 2000, one percent of the world's population (75 million people) took part in the signature campaign on the Manifesto 2000. Currently Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury (former UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative) is a major voice advocating and networking to build and to promote the Culture of Peace at the global, national, and regional levels.
Pathways To Peace (PTP) laid the foundation for the Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) in the early
1980’s by collaboration between Avon Mattison (Co-Founder and President) and Dr. Robert
Muller, then Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. In1989, this Initiative was
granted “Peace Messenger Initiative” status by UN Secretary-General Perez de Cuellar and PTP
became the International Secretariat for the Culture of Peace Initiative.
Since 1980 David Wick has worked with Pathways To Peace and the United Nations on
Peacebuilding and the Culture of Peace initiatives which he introduced to Ashland colleagues.