Peace, Human Security and Dignity Week
Peace and Human Rights: Dialog and Imagination
DMG MORI CO., LTD.
In today's society, which is more divided than ever, human-to-human dialog can bring an end to human conflicts. With speakers who have faced the world's division at the frontline and reflected on Japan's peace from global perspectives, we will discuss the importance of dialog and imagination.
Discussion
- Promotion of women's participation and advancement
- Gender equality
- Poverty
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
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Agenda2025
Participation Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
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2025.08.05[Tue]
11:00 ～ 12:00
(Venue Open 10:30)
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- Venue
- Theme Weeks Studio
Programme details
In today's society, peace and human rights, which the world has strived for, are under considerable, unprecedented threats.
Human conflicts are always caused by humans, and therefore human dialog may be able to provide solutions.
We continue to believe in the power of dialog and imagination of each person as we all play a role in changing history. Solving conflicts begins with noticing small misunderstandings around us, asking questions, discussing the issue, and changing our awareness and society. For that, we need to consider, respect, and listen to others, find common grounds, and look for breakthroughs.
In this program, together with experts, we will discuss the importance of dialog and imagination and communicate it to the world.
Reports
【Reflection】
Under the theme “Raising Your Voice: Each Voice Becomes a Power,” an agenda-setting session and two theme sessions were held, moderated by Kaoru Nemoto (United Nations Information Centre, Tokyo). In the agenda-setting session, Nemoto asked each speaker—Sahel Rosa, Peter Barakan, Yoichi Watanabe, and four Kansai University students—about the social issues they are most concerned with at present and compiled the issues in a single list. The following session under the theme “The Power to Speak Up and Take Action” focused on how to address such diverse issues. The discussion highlighted the importance of the power by noting, for example, that some children talk about what they would like to be if they can become adults rather than when they become adults; that denying different value systems is equivalent to denying people’s lives; and that while many pray for peace, they must ask themselves what kind of peace they envision. In the final session, under the theme “A Mindset for Peace,” speakers exchanged views on the mindset necessary to safeguard peace and human rights. They were reminded of, among other points, the need to pause for three seconds to consider others’ feelings before speaking and the need to recognize that life itself is a miracle and should be lived fully, including on behalf of those who cannot; that the Expo helps counter hate and war; that one should not treat others in ways one dislikes; and that direct dialog with people on site is essential. The sessions thus conveyed the importance of continually engaging with the complex theme of peace and human rights through dialog and imagination to foster a better society.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
In providing the session program, we aimed to propose the mindset for peace that allows us to change the world and society by our words and actions, as the interest and enthusiasm of many people are necessary to reform today's society that overflows with resignation and disinterest due to fake news and hate speech.
As the majority of the world population is said to be up to the age of 30, we included four students as speakers with the cooperation of Kansai University. The audience consisted of students and workers, who had a chance to exchange opinions directly with Kaoru Nemoto and the student speakers after the session.
Below are some of the comments from the post-session survey:
・ To respect human rights, not simple respect but dialog with others is truly necessary.
・ Listening to stories on various countries changed my view on peace and human rights.
・ I'd like to carry out corporate activities with renewed awareness of peace and human rights.
・ I felt that getting to know other people's feelings is all that matters.
・ It is important to get to know others and focus on not only differences but also shared points because it's normal that we are different.
・ I realized once again that war is not other people's business and that we should not take present happiness for granted.
・ It is obvious that we should not do things to others that we would not like to do to us, but I'd like to act on it.
・ I was touched by the words that you don't know what you've got until it's gone.
・ I found it necessary to have multifaceted perspectives, instead of a single biased one, to reexamine my stereotypes and what I take for granted.
・ I want to share and reflect on the words "we should question what kind of peace we pray for" with many people.
・ The earnest wish of those who talk about what they want to be "if" they can become adults, instead of "when" becoming adults, touched my heart.
・ It was a truly meaningful symposium. I'll share it with many people.
・ Peace should be considered from a wider perspective not limited to war.
We encouraged the audience (students and workers) to communicate the Association's official page (which features the program details) together with their opinions. These sessions in the “Theme Weeks“ program at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan strengthened understanding of peace and human rights and inspired future behavioral change (awareness and action). We believe this will become a legacy.
Cast
Moderator
Kaoru Nemoto
United Nations Information Centre (UNIC)
Nemoto joined UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) in 1996. In her career at UNHCR till end 2011, she was active in the field to assist and protect refugees as well as in developing policies and managing fund-raising from the private sector at the Geneva headquarters. Nemoto also worked as spokeswoman for WFP (World Food Program) and Executive Director at Japan Association for UNHCR. She assumed her current position in August 2013. From September 2016 through June 2024, she was a member of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Promotion Roundtable, established by the Japanese Government. She received the “Person of the Year Award” of the Public Relations Society of Japan for the year 2021, praised for her work on promoting UN activities and the importance of SDGs.
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Speakers
Sahel Rosa
Sahel Rosa was born in Iran, moved to Japan at the age of 8, and learned Japanese from the principal of the elementary school she attended. She made her debut as a radio DJ on J-WAVE. She has received numerous awards at film festivals for her performances in which she was a leading actress. Recently, she has expanded her creative activities as a stage and movie director, among others. In addition to entertainment activities, she has conducted humanitarian efforts, supporting children in refugee camps and orphanages both in Japan and abroad to help children in refugee camps and orphanages. In 2020, she received the Humanitarian Award (an esteemed honor previously awarded to distinguished figures such as actor Harrison Ford and physicist Stephen Hawking) in the United States.
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Peter Barakan
Peter Barakan was born in London, England, in 1951.
After graduating from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, Japanese Department, he moved to Japan in 1974 to work at a music publishing company.
He is currently active as a freelance broadcaster, hosting several regular radio programmes, in addition to “Japanology Plus” on NHK World TV.
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Yoichi Watanabe
Yoichi Watanabe has worked as a war photographer since he was a student, covering specifically various conflict zones around the world.
He listens to tragedies in war zones and the raw voices of the people living there and focuses on family ties in extreme situations. He was then embedded in the U.S. Army in the Iraq War (EMBED). The areas he has covered include, other than the Iraq War, Rwandan Civil War, Kosovo Conflict, Chechen War, Somali Civil War, Afghanistan Conflict, Columbia’s left-wing guerrilla liberation front, Sudan, Darfur Conflict, and Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
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Peace, Human Security and Dignity Week
Peace and Human Rights: Dialog and Imagination
In today's society, which is more divided than ever, human-to-human dialog can bring an end to human conflicts. With speakers who have faced the world's division at the frontline and reflected on Japan's peace from global perspectives, we will discuss the importance of dialog and imagination.
-
2025.08.05[Tue]
11:00～12:00
(Venue Open 10:30)
- Theme Weeks Studio
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
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Peace, Human Security and Dignity Week
