During the first edition of the Normandy World Peace Forum, the Normandy Region invited more than 160 people from 39 different countries to speak on the subject of “Globalising peace: new wars, new peace”. In the historic setting of the Abbaye-aux-Dames, 5,000 people, including 1,700 young people, attended 4 major conferences and 23 debates in which experts and representatives on the ground addressed this question and witnesses of conflicts shared their experiences. 

This led to intense emotions and discussions: Normandy’s appeal to stop the violence against the Rohingyas, meetings in the Village for Peace, Youssou NDour’s Concert for Peace on Omaha Beach and the involvement of 800 young people, focused on human rights.

The Forum conveyed a strong message, underlined by Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary General of the UN and the Forum’s Guest of Honour: we must work together to resolve global conflicts. More than ever, in a changing and complex world, the Normandy Region is taking action to embody and support peace.