The United Nations and Peace Education

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) is a global intergovernmental organization established on October 24, 1945 with the general aims of maintaining international peace and encouraging international cooperation. The UN refers to the overarching organization, although specialist UN agencies and forums have been established to further specific objectives. With some exceptions, UN declarations and instruments constitute so-called soft law, which is to say that they work through the power of moral persuasion. Since international peace and co-operation are central to the founding principles of the UN, it is logical that, within the official declarations and instruments of the UN, one ought to find formulations regarding peace education. Further, in seeking to understand peace education, it is logical that we ought to be aware of these formulations including their strengths and weaknesses.