‘our violent and unsettled times cry for mahatma gandhi’s healing touch’,

Says Deputy Secretary-General in remarks on international day

Following are Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro’s remarks at a round-table discussion on the International Day of Non-Violence in New York, 2 October:

I am deeply honoured to join you for this round-table discussion on the contemporary significance of Gandhian non-violence.  I am particularly happy to be here today, as in my previous capacity as Foreign Minister of my country I was invited to a commemoration of Gandhi’s legacy in New Delhi and could not make it.

For me, this commemoration is both touching and timely.  It is touching because, as a lawyer, I have always sought inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings and his example.  And it is timely because our violent and unsettled times cry for Mahatma Gandhi’s healing touch.

Today, the Mahatma’s philosophy guides much of the UN’s work for peace.  That is because all of us at the Organization realize that the UN’s efforts to end war must reach well beyond the mere absence of conflict.  Peacekeepers and preventive diplomacy remain essential tools in our efforts to silence guns and implement ceasefires.  But, by themselves, they are not enough to counter humanity’s worst instincts.

Instead, the search for a durable and enduring peace demands action at a deeper, more profound level.  It requires the spread of values, attitudes and behaviours that reject violence and embrace tolerance, justice and respect for human rights.  In short, it requires a culture of Gandhian peace and non-violence.

Reflecting on this approach, the Mahatma once said, “I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”

The Mahatma championed non-violence as a way of life and as a struggle; by the sheer force of his example he inspired countless communities, groups and individuals to make non-violent choices in meeting their challenges.

Today, we need to reawaken the Mahatma’s ideals.  That is why I hope that this commemoration can help spread the message of non-violence to people it may not have reached, and to places where it was forgotten.

Of course, this process will take time.  Bigotry, oppression and violence are sadly still a feature of our times.  Countering them requires action at multiple levels and by myriads of peace-loving actors.  It needs the media, education and dialogue.  It requires every one of us to take part, and to lead by example.  Yet, if we can do so, I firmly believe we will build a world that would truly make the Mahatma proud.

On this birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, let us all recommit ourselves to his philosophy, and let us build a world where people choose to talk and listen, instead of shoot and fight.

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For information media • not an official record