Mangaluru: The Centre for Ethics (CFE) at Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), a member of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) since 2016, celebrated the International Day of Peace on 20th September 2024. The event aimed to foster and shape the understanding of peace within the community and beyond.
The program began with a welcome address by Dr. Mohammad Nasir Ahmad. Dr. Vina Vaswani, Director of CFE, delivered the opening remarks and introduced the program agenda. The Hon’ble Chancellor of Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Dr. Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, inaugurated the event. In his presidential address, he emphasized the importance of peace instruments and the role of higher education institutions in fostering peace. Vice Principal Dr. Prakash Saldanha and Dr. Abhay Nirgude, Dean of Yenepoya Medical College (YMC), also spoke about the increasing need to incorporate the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in education. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Aarti Halwai, Tutor at CFE.
The first session opened with an introduction to the UNAI SDG, specifically focusing on “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.” Lt. Col. (Dr.) Neelam Puthran (Retired), Former Professor & HOD of Ophthalmology at YMC and BVUMC Pune, chaired the session and introduced the first speaker, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Cynthia Arunachalam (Retired), Former HOD of Ophthalmology at YMC. Dr. Arunachalam shared her perspective on peace through the lens of her military experience, distinguishing wars from state-sponsored violence.
The second session featured a talk by Dr. Vina Vaswani, Director of CFE, on “Understanding Intergenerational Justice.” She discussed theories of just war and our responsibility to future generations.
After lunch, Dr. Oran Finegan, Former Head of the Forensic Division at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Switzerland, delivered insights on the “Role of Forensics in Peacebuilding and Reconciliation.” He highlighted how forensics play a role beyond identification and accountability, contributing to peacebuilding through the application of International Humanitarian Law.
The event was conducted in hybrid mode, with participants from within and outside the university, representing various disciplines such as Medical, Dental, Homeopathy, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, and Forensics. Attendees were encouraged to share their thoughts on peace using Menti-meter, making the event interactive and stimulating further discussion and reflection.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Akuma Ifeanyichukwu, a Ph.D. scholar at CFE.