International Youth Conference "Uprooting Hatred and Terror"

November 2001 New York City, NY

Seeds of Peace graduates from around the world gathered to participate in a conference on “Uprooting Hatred and Terror.” The conference coincided with the United Nations’ General Assembly meetings, and represented the first time that youth interjected their voice into the debate over violence and terrorism. Youth delegations from around, representing the Middle East, Balkans, Cyprus, India and Pakistan, exchanged perspectives on the root causes of hatred and violence in and across communities, with particular focus on the role of the media, pop culture, education, economic disparity, safety and security, religion, principles of government, and guiding principles. On Thursday, November 15, 2001, the youth delegates accepted and presented the Charter on Uprooting Hatred and Terror to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A complete copy of the Charter can be found by clicking here. [0] The nearly weeklong conference in New York City included a trip organized by Mayor Giuliani’s office and afforded participants the opportunity to interact with prominent leaders in government, media, business, and academia, including Her Majesty Queen Noor-al Hussein, numerous Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors, Chevy Chase (on violence in film), Farooq Kathwari, Frank Wisner, author Karen Armstrong and many others. For more details, of each day's events, please see the daily recaps below. Saturday, November 10 [0] The conference opens with a welcome to the Seeds of Peace by John Wallach, Bobbie Gottschalk, and Tim Wilson. Committees meet for the first time to explore the roles of media, pop culture, education, religion, principles of government, economic disparity, safety and security, and guiding principles in making this a safer or more dangerous world. The delegates are addressed by a panel of expert speakers and return to their committees to continue debate. Sunday, November 11 [0] Delegates start the day at brunch with Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan. Her Majesty addresses the delegates at an ecumenical service officiated by leaders of faith from around the world. Delegates share a private meeting with Palestinian Authority official Nabil Shaath. President Richard Berman of Manhattanville College hosts the delegates for dinner, with a keynote address by the Hon. Aaron Miller of the U.S. State Department. Monday, November 12 [0] Expert speakers, including Jerrold Post, Farooq Kathwari, and Robert Hormats, address delegates at the morning plenary session. Delegates continue drafting resolutions in committee meetings. Tuesday, November 13 [0] Delegates are addressed by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Egypt, and an American Ambassador to India and Egypt. Mayor Guiliani's office escorts delegates to the site of the former World Trade Center. Delegates continue committee meetings. Delegates spend an evening at the theater. Wednesday, November 14 [0] The Foreign Ministers of Jordan and Israel, along with actor Chevy Chase and author Karen Armstrong, address the delegates at the morning plenary session. The delegates visit the United Nations for an afternoon briefing, and continue committee meetings. After final committee sessions, delegates come together for a farewell celebration. Thursday, November 15 [0] Delegates convene for the final plenary session and Report of Committees on the Draft Charter. The International Youth Conference on "Uprooting Hatred and Terror" formally closes with the presentation of the declaration to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.

Charter on Uprooting Hatred and Terror

The Charter on Uprooting Hatred and Terror is the work of all 120 youth delegates, representing the eight conference committees (Declaration of Principles, Media, Education, Religion, Economic Disparity, Religion, Safety and Security and Popular Culture). The Charter opens with the following statement in the Declaration of Principles: "We, Seeds of Peace, young people representing 22 war-ravaged nations, hereby declare that we are tired of hatred, violence and terror. At Seeds of Peace camp, we ascended together to the peak of appreciation that peace is possible. We entered camp full of stereotypes and prejudices against our enemy; after three exhilarating weeks of coexistence, we returned home with an understanding of the other side and acceptance of our common humanity. We learned that we are strong together. In our home countries, by contrast, we have grown up in tense, fearful environments. We have lost loved ones and seen our sense of security and normality in life shattered. The sight of humanity reduced to rubble on September 11 served as a terrible reminder of the tragedies we have witnessed in our lives. In the wake of so many tragedies, we have come together to search for enduring solutions to hatred, terror and violence." To read more of the Charter on Uprooting Hatred and Terror, click here. [0]