(TibetanReview.net, Dec12, 2016) – On the World human rights Day of Dec 10, the Dalai Lama took part in the opening session of the inaugural Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit organized by the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation in the Cultural Centre of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the residential complex of the President of India. The purpose of the summit was to globalize compassion for children.
The foundation’s founder, Mr Kailash Satyarthi, is a co-winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in freeing children from slavery and their upliftment in society.
In his address the Dalai Lama said children were naturally open and warmhearted, accepting and being inclusive of everyone, which he said was the source of peace of mind. He added that it was only as they grew up that they began to see others in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’.
He said cultivating peace of mind through education with focus on inner values rather than on just materialistic goals will help achieve peace of mind. He said cultivating peace of mind was also important for achieving good health, pointing out findings by scientists that constant anger, fear and hatred consumed our immune systems.
He also spoke about the sameness of all human beings at the fundamental level, despite their differences in personal differences and circumstances, adding that the basic human nature was compassion.
The keynote address was given by Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India.
In his opening remark to the gathering of Princesses, presidents, laureates and other globally prominent figures, Kailash Satyarthi said, “You are the strongest moral voices we have in the world today and together we will turn the tide in favor of the most marginalized children. Let us build a legacy together.”
Others who took part in the inaugural summit for children included Princess Charlene of Monaco; Julia Gallard, former Prime Minister of Australia; Princess Laurentien of The Netherlands; Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan; Nobel Peace laureate and former President of East Timor Jose Ramos Horta; Yemeni human rights activist and laureate Tawakkol Karman; Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Centre; Lorena Castillo, the First Lady of Panama; and Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development. The summit concluded on Dec 11 with the delegates drawing up an action-based declaration on what they will do in their own countries and across the world to push policy, raise funds and find solutions towards ending violations against children.