Coleiro Calls for Dialogue, Non-Violence, Shared Responsibility Ahead of International Day of Non-Violence By Raymond Enoch
H.E. Anthony C. Coleiro has called for renewed international commitment to dialogue, non-violence and responsible leadership, stressing that sustainable peace must be built before conflicts erupt.
Coleiro made the call during a special interview with Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) ahead of the International Day of Non-Violence, observed annually on October 2 to commemorate the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
The wide-ranging interview, conducted by senior CRTV journalist, broadcaster and peace advocate, Amy Banda, focused on the relevance of non-violence in a world confronted by armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions, social polarisation and divisions within communities.
The engagement followed Coleiro’s recent international interventions marking the International Day of Peace, during which he similarly emphasised dialogue, diplomacy and shared responsibility as foundations for lasting peace.
Coleiro said non-violence should not be viewed simply as the absence of physical conflict but as a conscious commitment to resolving differences through dignity, respect, communication and understanding.
“We do not have to agree with one another in order to speak to one another. When disagreement arises, communication becomes more important, not less,” he said.
Drawing on his experience in diplomacy, institutional leadership and international engagement, Coleiro stressed the importance of maintaining communication channels, particularly during periods of heightened tension.
“Dialogue does not mean endorsement. Negotiation does not mean surrender. Communication does not mean agreement,” he said.
According to him, diplomacy must preserve avenues for communication even when parties hold fundamentally different positions, noting that the immediate outcome of dialogue may not always be an agreement but the preservation of the possibility of reaching one in the future.
He also called for a shift from reacting to conflicts to investing in their prevention.
“Peace must not simply be discussed when conflict begins; peace must be built before conflict begins,” Coleiro said.
On Africa and Cameroon, he cautioned against treating the continent’s conflicts and social tensions as though they had identical causes or required uniform solutions.
He advocated inclusive and locally rooted peacebuilding efforts involving governments and institutions, as well as community and traditional leaders, civil society organisations, religious leaders, women and young people.
While acknowledging the role of international partners in supporting and facilitating peace processes, Coleiro said sustainable solutions ultimately require meaningful local participation and ownership.
“Peace becomes sustainable when communities themselves have ownership of it,” he said.
The discussion also examined gender-based violence and violence against women and girls, with Coleiro stressing the importance of dialogue and education in challenging attitudes that allow violence to develop or become normalised.
He, however, maintained that dialogue must never replace protection, accountability and justice.
According to him, victims of violence must have access to effective protection and support, while institutions must respond appropriately and perpetrators must be held accountable in accordance with the law.
He further advocated greater participation of women in peacebuilding and decision-making, rather than treating them solely as beneficiaries of peace initiatives.
Coleiro also highlighted the role of young people and the media in shaping contemporary public discourse, particularly as social media has transformed individuals into both consumers and distributors of information.
He urged young people to consider whether their communication contributes to understanding or intensifies division, while warning against misinformation, hate speech and deliberate dehumanisation.
“Your phone can become an instrument of division or an instrument of peace. That decision is made every time you communicate,” he said.
Coleiro also acknowledged the democratic responsibility of journalists to scrutinise institutions, expose wrongdoing and promote accountability, while stressing that robust public debate should not degenerate into hatred or dehumanisation.
On the broader responsibility for peace, he said the task extends beyond governments and international institutions, arguing that cultures of peace are created within families, workplaces, schools and communities.
“Governments may negotiate peace agreements, but societies create cultures of peace,” he said.
He urged leaders to recognise listening as an essential component of leadership and encouraged younger generations to challenge inherited divisions through dialogue, cooperation and engagement across cultures, communities and borders.
Concluding the intervention, Coleiro called for collective responsibility in promoting peaceful societies.
“Choose dialogue over division. Choose understanding over intolerance. Choose dignity over violence,” he said.
He maintained that peace should not remain the exclusive responsibility of governments and diplomats but must become a shared commitment reflected in everyday choices and relationships.
The CRTV engagement forms part of Coleiro’s continuing international interventions promoting peace, dialogue, diplomacy, mutual respect and shared responsibility, with emphasis on investing in peace before societies are confronted with the human and institutional costs of conflict.
