CESAR EDGARDO MARTINEZ (El Salvador) said that peace was not only the absence of conflict. It also implied the conscious effort of creation and empowerment in the minds of human beings. The concept of a culture of peace was linked to dialogue and alliance among civilizations. All cultures and civilizations stood on an equal footing. Dialogue should be based on shared principles, including tolerance, diversity, and non-violence, among others. The United Nations was founded on the concept of building peace. It now faced a twenty-first century challenge to expand collective security and provide a context for what that meant.

He said that new information technologies, greater levels of regional integration, and dynamic flows of international and national migration allowed people from all over the world to get to know each other and exchange ideas, knowledge and values. The right to peace was one of the fundamental pillars of human rights. Education also had a key role to play in building and consolidating the culture of peace. He welcomed the efforts of the Organization, and especially those of UNESCO, in the areas of human rights, linguistic diversity and technology. El Salvador was committed to consolidating the culture of peace.