INVITATION to an event commemorating the International Day of Peace. Organized by the NGO Committee on Peace Vienna with the support of Bertha von Suttner Friedensakademie.

“UN – 80 years for Peace, Perspectives for the Future”

At the Vienna International Centre (UN Vienna) - Date: Friday, September 19th, 2025

First part – Ceremony in front of the Peace Bell - Time: 14:00 hours (2:00 PM CET) Meeting place: VIC, Memorial Plaza, at the Peace Bell

Welcome by: Mr. Peter Haider Chair, NGO Committee on Peace - Vienna

Messages by: Ms. Rebecca Jovin Chief of Office, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs at Vienna and by Ambassadors to the UN in Vienna

Musical contributions (drums, saxophone) - Ringing of the Peace Bell

Second part – Panel discussion on the theme: „UN – 80 years for Peace, Perspectives for the Future“ - Time: 15:00 hours (3:00 PM CET) Meeting place: VIC, C-Building, 7th floor, Conference Room CR3

Speakers: Mr. Jean-Luc Lemahieu: Visiting Lecturer International Relations, member Advisory Board of the Siracusa Institute, former Director Policy Analysis and Public Information, UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

Dr. Verena Winiwarter: Professor of environmental history at the Institute for Social Ecology at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences 2018-2022. Since 2016, she has headed the Commission for Interdisciplinary Ecological Studies of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Scientist of the Year 2013’ (Club of Education and Science Journalists, Austria).

Ms. Heather Wokusch: Founder of blockhub.care, designs EdTech and PeaceTech systems to leverage technology for humanitarian capacity building. As the Executive Director of SDG2030.me, she innovates Crowdsourced Solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ms. Anastasia Yatsko: Founder and Programme Director, Earth charter Austria, a global effort to power a movement of bringing about a just, sustainable and peaceful future.

*Access to VIC:
A VIC grounds pass is required to enter the Vienna International Centre.
Recipients of this invitation, or their guests, who do not hold a VIC grounds pass valid for the current year, are kindly requested to register by sending an email with:
1) Title: Mr. or Ms.;

2) Separate indication of their family name and given name (as it appears in ID);

3) Date of birth;

4) Type of ID (passport, driving license...); and
5) The number of the ID document and country of issuance