The 17th World Peace Forum opened Monday in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and concludes Wednesday .
The theme is "Reimagining Peace in the 21st Century," with sessions on climate justice, sustainable development and tourism.
The program is jointly organized by the Lumbini World Peace Forum, based in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, and the Schengen Peace Foundation, based in Luxembourg and is the first time for any South-Asian country.
Bringing a forum with this pedigree to Lumbini is as much a statement about the site as about the agenda: organisers say the event is meant to position Nepal's most sacred Buddhist site not just as a pilgrimage destination but as a serious venue for international dialogue on peace, climate and development.
This event has drawn prominent national and international figures. International speakers and representatives include Vicki Hansen, President of the Schengen Peace Foundation (Luxembourg); Steve Killelea AM, founding executive chairman of the Institute for Economics and Peace (Australia); Dasho Dorji Dhadul, Director of the Bhutan Tourism Council; and Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt. André Philippe, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, sent good wishes via video message.
The inaugural session was attended by Khim Bahadur Kunwar, Province Planning Secretary of Lumbini Province; Kalpana Harijan, Acting Chief of Lumbini Cultural Municipality; and Dr. Rajendra Bari, President of the Lumbini-Kapilvastu World Campaign, Belgium, among others.
It concludes today with the adoption of the Lumbini World Peace Declaration; organisers say the event is expected to boost religious and cultural tourism in Lumbini.
