On 14 October 2025, the Kofi Annan Foundation, in partnership with the Geneva Graduate Institute and Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, hosted the Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address in the Auditorium Ivan Pictet, as part of Geneva Peace Week. The annual event honours Kofi Annan’s legacy by convening leaders and peacebuilders to reflect on the challenges and opportunities for peace in our time.
Opening Remarks
The evening began with a warm welcome from Ahmad Fawzi, one of Kofi Annan’s former spokespersons and communication advisors. He greeted guests and set the tone for an evening dedicated to reflection, dialogue, and action for peace.
Keith Krause (below, left), Director of the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding at the Geneva Graduate Institute, followed with opening remarks underscoring the importance of dialogue in times of crisis.
Speaking next, Nathalie Fontanet (above, right), Conseillère d’État of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, expressed Geneva’s commitment to serving as a hub for peace and diplomacy.
The 2025 Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address
Ahmad Fawzi then introduced Martin Griffiths, International Mediator and former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, who delivered the 2025 Address.
In his keynote, “Peacemaking in a Fractured World,” Griffiths drew from decades of mediation experience to reflect on the fragility of the international system and the urgent need to rebuild trust across divides.
“…we, as peacemakers, must fight harder to carry [Kofi Annan’s] legacy forward in these difficult times. Not for Kofi’s sake, but for the millions of people in the world who deserve our help, and the millions more who will come after them.”
His Address focuses on contemporary challenges in peace-making and the need for renewed commitment to international cooperation.
Music for Peace
Following the keynote, La Banda de Música took the stage for a moving clarinet performance by Lester Chio Alonso, reminding the audience of the power of music, art and culture to bridge differences and foster peace.
Peacebuilders’ Dialogue
The programme continued with a Peace Dialogue, moderated by Ahmad Fawzi, featuring:
- Victoria do Nascimento Houpert, Member of the Peacebuilding Initiative and Master’s Student in International Development, Geneva Graduate Institute.
- Martin Griffiths, International Mediator and former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.
- Dao Manh Nghia, Founder and President, DMN Initiative, SDGs Council, DMN Foundation
- Mariyum Areeb Amjad, Program Officer, HIVE Pakistan
“We don’t come to the table to take a side, we come to the table to build a path forward together.”
– Dao Manh Nghia
Together, they discussed practical lessons from their work, including the critical role of dialogue and the importance of young leaders being actively involved in peace-making and conflict transformation.
Ahmad Fawzi closed the evening by quoting Hajer Sharief, Libyan human rights activist and Extremely Together Young Leader, who said:
“Kofi Annan is not the past, he is the future.”
Her words captured the spirit of the evening, serving as a reminder that Kofi Annan’s values of peace, dialogue, and shared humanity continue to guide the work of today’s leaders and future generations.
Watch the recording of the 2025 Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address
The Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address is organised thanks to the support of the Republic and State of Geneva and the City of Geneva.
