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David Fernández Puyana
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David Fernández Puyana
The Blogs
David Fernández Puyana
Ambassador and Permanent Observer of UPEACE
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UN commemorates Shimon Peres Legacy of Peace

Courtesy photo of the author

The past 1st June 2023 the book “The Shimon Peres Legacy of peace through Fourteen historical speeches” was launched in UN Geneva. This book embodies the first joint endeavor between the Reichman University and the University for Peace   – the first of many, we hope. The book was co-edited by David Fernandez Puyana (Ambassador & Permament Observer of UPEACE to the UN) and Daphné Richemond-Barak (Assistant Professor at Reichman University).

Leading scholars, high-level diplomats, UN officials, and distinguished academics agreed to share their memories and thoughts on the work of Shimon Peres. By doing so, they contributed to the education of the world’s new generation of thinkers and practitioners, as well, participated in the 100 Anniversary of the Peres’ birth.

The first part of the book brings together their contributions and reflections on Shimon Peres and his legacy in the field of peace.

There are contributions of Miguel Angel Moratinos (High Representative of the Alliance of Civilizations), Francisco Rojas Aravena (Rector of UPEACE), Federico Mayor Zaragoza (Former DG of UNESCO), Chemi Peres (Chairman of the Peres Center on Peace and Innovation), Nadav Tamir (senior diplomatic adviser of Shimon Peres), Alexandros Papaioannou (Ambassador of Greece), Alex Mejia (UNITAR), Meirav Eilon (Ambassador of Israel to UN), Eitan Na’eh (Ambassador of Israel in Bahrain), Annyssa Bellal (Geneva Peacebuilding Platform), and many others.

The second part of the book compiles a selection of fourteen historical speeches delivered by Shimon Peres during his long career. These statements were selected by the Shimon Peres Center.

As a whole, this book connects the past to the future, in the hope of a better present.

Our most sincere gratitude to the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, the World Jewish Congress and the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation for their invaluable friendship and partnership along the way. Also our gratitude goes to UNITAR for the technical support, in particular Daniel Nazarov. This project would not have seen the light without the participation of the permanent missions of Israel and Greece in Geneva who kindly agreed to share with all of us how the work of Shimon Peres has made and continues to make the world a safer and more inspiring place.

University of Peace and Reichman University share the most sincere hope that we all shall live by Shimon Peres’ vision, words, wisdom, creativity, and constant search for peace.

About the Author
Dr. David Fernández Puyana was born in Spain and is a practitioner and international lawyer specialized in international human rights law, international relations, peace studies, United Nations and civil society movements. He earned a Phd with European Mention and he has also a Degree on Law & Philosophy, as well as, some Masters on Human Rights (Essex, Alcala de Henares and Barcelona Universities). He served as adviser at the UNESCO Liaison Office and the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the UN in Geneva. As a legal assistant of the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the UN Intergovernmental Working Group on the right to peace, he was one of the architects of the Declaration on the Right to Peace adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2016. He advises Paz sin Fronteras and is Professor of Public International Law at Abat Oliba University CEU. Since June 2018, he serves as Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the University for Peace established by the UN General Assembly to the UN and UNESCO. He is also nominated Gender Champion.