Overview

Hungarian Academy of Sciences
1051 Budapest, Széchenyi István tér 9.

Monday, 7 September 2026 | 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Organized by the United Nations Association of Hungary, in collaboration with the Ludovika University of Public Service, the UNESCO National Commission of Hungary, the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy - Berlin/New York, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Women for Diplomacy International.

PROGRAMME

9:00-10:30 a.m.  Welcome and Opening Keynote Speeches
Welcome

• H.E. Ambassador Katalin Bogyay, President of UNA Hungary and UNESCO Hungarian National Commission; President of World Federation of United Nations Associations
• Professor Mihály Pósfai, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Opened by
H.E. Mr Zoltán Tarr
Minister of Social Relations and Culture of Hungary
and
H.E. Mr. Khondker M. Talha
President of the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference, Paris; Ambassador of Bangladesh to France and Monaco

Keynote Speeches

• Ms. Hedva Ser, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Diplomacy, UNESCO Artist for Peace, Paris
• Dr. Gergely Deli, Rector of Ludovika University of Public Service

The Human Foundations of Peace
From UNESCO’s Vision to the Age of Artificial Intelligence
By Mr. Mark Donfried, Director of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, Berlin/Washington DC

10:30-10:45 a.m.  Break

10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.  Panels

I. Panel: “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day”
The official theme for the United Nations 2026 International Day of Peace

Opening thoughts by: H.E. Mr. István Lakatos, Deputy State Secretary for International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Presidium Member of UNA Hungary

Participants:

• Ms. Ruchira Gupta, Journalist, Women’s Rights Advocate, Professor of New York University, New York
• Dr. Réka Varga, Dean of the Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies; Head of the Department of International Law, LUPS; Presidium Member of UNA Hungary
• Dr. Anikó Szalai, Associate Professor, Director of the Institute of International and Regional Studies, University of Szeged; Presidium Member of UNA Hungary
• Mr. Péter Balogh, Senior Youth Delegate of Hungary to the United Nations

Chair: Dr. Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International and Strategic Relations, Associate Professor, Széchenyi István University of Gyor, Presidium Member of UNA Hungary

II. Panel: Inspired by Béla Bartók, Hungarian composer (1881-1945)
“My guiding philosophy has always been the idea of different nations uniting into brotherhood, in spite of all the wars and hostility. I have tried to serve the aims of this idea, as best as I can in my music! So for that reason I do not shrink away from any influences!”

Opening thoughts by: H.E. Mr. Gábor Csaba, Deputy State Secretary for Cultural Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary

Participants:

• Dr. Ivan Ivanov, Associate Professor, International Balkan University; Executive Chairman, International Alliance of Civilizations, North Macedonia
• Professor Andrea Meláth, Head of the Department of Vocal and Opera Studies at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music
• Ms. Zeever Zahra Baqar, UN Policy Representative of International Association of Applied Psychology; Founder of the Baqar Foundation
• Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Clinical Psychologist, UN Member State Advisor, Journalist, Co-Founder of Women4Diplomacy International

Chair: Ms. Widad Brimo, Secretary-General of UNA Hungary, PhD Candidate, University of Szeged

Closing Performance: “Stand up for Peace”
Music by Dr. Judy Kuriansky & Russell Daisey (Composer, Singer, Pianist)

EVENING PROGRAMME

“ART4PEACE” - Building Trust Through Intercultural Dialogue
Special Evening with Art and Poetry, followed by a Friendly Discussion on the Role of Cultural Diplomacy
Villa 11 | 1026 Budapest, Torockó str. 11

Monday, 7 September 2026 | Doors open at 5:30 p.m. | Programme starts at 6:00 p.m.
With Ambassadors, Artists and Poems from: Arab Republic of Egypt; Federal Republic of Nigeria; French Republic; Hungary; Italian Republic; Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Kingdom of Morocco; Kingdom of Spain; Republic of Angola; People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Republic of Bulgaria; Republic of Cuba; Republic of Ecuador; Republic of Finland; Republic of India; Republic of Indonesia; Republic of Peru; Republic of the Philippines; State of Qatar; United Mexican States; United Kingdom; United States of America.

Hosted by: Ambassador Katalin Bogyay, President of UNA Hungary and UNESCO Hungarian National Commission; President of the World Federation of United Nations Associations.
Featuring: celebrated Hungarian writer Krisztina Toth, Moroccan poet Safae Sijilmassi and Hungarian saxofonist Abris Kocsis.

Organized by: the United Nations Association of Hungary, in collaboration with Villa11, the Ludovika University of Public Service, the UNESCO National Commission of Hungary, the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy - Berlin/New York, and Women for Diplomacy International.