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We all belong to the human race. We all share the same basic values. We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skins, but we all believe in treating people kindly and fairly.”
– Kofi Annan, the 7th Secretary General of the United Nations, 1998
Sponsors:
- The Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations
- The UNESCO Universal Ethics Project
- The Committee of Triple Universal Ethics of Won Buddhism
Co-Sponsors:
- The Milliennium Forum
- The Milliennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders
- World Conference on Religions and Peace
- The Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations
- The Values Caucus
- Hague Appeal for Peace Focus Group on Religions and Spirituality
“Why is it important to have ethical discourse on global issues? Because it is a new era and we need to find new ways to solve global problems. The United Nations has not been free to address the root causes of the problems it is charged with solving. This conference is a reflection of the momentum at the UN to collectively discover new approaches in this new century. We believe that by considering the ethical and moral dimensions of the mission of the UN, unprecedented change can occur. True change must come, willingly, from within. ”
– Ven. Chung Ohun Lee, 1st Universal Ethics Millennium Conference at the UN, 2000
“We must cultivate balance liberty with justice, rationality with compassion, due process with civility and rights with responsibility. The countries of the West must transform themselves into “learning civilizations” as well as “teaching civilizations,” appreciating that values can be different forms in different cultures.”
– Prof. Tu Wei-Ming, Director of Harvard University – Yenching Institute
“We should draw from our core values and ethical framework for a sense of direction. Our goal must be greater than seeking mutual interests; we need to pursue the common good.”
– Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of UNIFEM