ASEAN Prioritizes Peace Education for Regional Stability and Development
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recently convened a high-level conference on peace education in Quezon City, gathering over 400 stakeholders from across Southeast Asia. The conference, themed 'Peace Education for Shared Futures and Enduring Cooperation,' emphasized the critical role of embedding peace education in academic curricula to foster regional peace, resilience, social cohesion, inclusive development, and sustainable cooperation. Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento highlighted that despite the diverse cultures and histories of the 11 ASEAN member nations, there is a common aspiration for peace. He stressed that peace education should extend beyond the classroom to cultivate empathy, deepen intercultural understanding, and equip young people with non-violent conflict resolution skills. The event also addressed the importance of critical thinking in an age of artificial intelligence, enabling citizens to discern fact from falsehood and use technology respons...