Mexico: UNESCO celebrates teachers in recognition of their efforts to foster peace
Teachers from the SNTE (National Education Workers’ Union), affiliated to Education International, received international recognition for their leadership in educating generations of students committed to harmonious coexistence and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The ceremony took place at the UNESCO head office in Mexico, in the framework of the peace campaign Arm Yourself with Courage for a Culture of Peace! (¡Ármate de Valor por una Cultura de Paz!), led by the SNTE.
During the event, UNESCO recognised and celebrated 15 teachers from different levels of education. A total of 133 teachers will receive awards throughout the country.
SNTE General Secretary Alfonso Cepeda Salas stressed that “education is the most solid way to build peaceful, inclusive and sustainable communities, where every teacher is a builder of peace, and every school is a haven of hope”. He underlined that over 35 million students are supported every day by education workers who promote universal values such as respect, equality, solidarity, empathy and dialogue.
UNESCO’s representative in Mexico, Andrés Morales Arciniegas, proposed strengthening the collaboration with the SNTE through four key initiatives:
- creating a national network of peace-building teachers;
- developing a digital repository of good practices and teaching materials;
- promoting education in social and emotional skills and reconciliation;
- encouraging peace projects in schools, involving the whole education community.
Launched in 2024, the SNTE campaign has led to 152,400 schools raising the white flag as a symbol of their commitment and over 900 projects involving 1.3 million people. This initiative is complemented by other union campaigns, such as Yes to Life, No to Drugs, Disseminating the Women’s Bill of Rights or Water is Life, Water is Running Out!, aimed at fostering self-care, gender equality, and environmental protection.
The event was attended by representatives of UNESCO, the Ministry of Public Education, the National Human Rights Commission, federal legislators, and trade union leaders.
