Mr Forest Whitaker, world-famous actor, was designated as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation in June 2011. In May 2014, he was entrusted with the title of UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation in light of his efforts to highlight education as a power to promote peace and reconciliation between and within communities.
Forest Whitaker has long been an active supporter of UNESCO values, considering education as a vector of peace in the United States and around the world. His numerous participations in forums and conferences shed light on issues that can have devastating consequences in fragile regions, such as South Sudan and Uganda.
As President of the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI), he champions the Youth Peacemaker Network (YPN) programme, which aims to promote peace and reconciliation with educational tools in areas affected by conflict and violence. The WPDI works jointly with UNESCO in South Sudan, Uganda and Mexico. In 2012, the WPDI launched the Conflict Resolution Education (CRE) programme in the United States, contributing to the development of youth leadership and cohesion in schools. In South Sudan for example, the WPDI trained former child soldiers and orphans to become peacemakers for their communities.
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Forest Whitaker activities with UNESCO
