Coleiro Calls for Peace to Become a Daily Investment in Dialogue, Youth, Shared Responsibility By Raymond Enoch
MALTA, September 21, 2026 — Peace must become a daily investment in dialogue, youth and shared responsibility rather than an issue addressed only after conflict erupts, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to Malta, H.E. Marquis Anthony C. Coleiro, has said.
Coleiro made the call while delivering the keynote address at the International Day of Peace 2026 Online International Summit, organised by Target Peace, Mankis Digital Hub and Peace Bus Association under the theme: “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”
Speaking on “From Communities to Nations – Investing in Peace Through Dialogue, Diplomacy and Shared Responsibility,” Coleiro said lasting peace must be deliberately cultivated within homes, schools, communities and institutions.
> “Peace is local before it becomes global.”
He said genuine investment in peace requires sustained attention to education, opportunity, social inclusion, good governance, justice and institutional trust, stressing that peace and development are mutually reinforcing rather than competing priorities.
Drawing on his diplomatic experience, Coleiro described diplomacy as fundamentally an instrument of communication and the search for common ground, particularly when dialogue becomes difficult.
He said consular diplomacy could also strengthen communities by promoting integration, cultural understanding and cooperation in trade, education, tourism and investment.
Within the broader Africa-Europe relationship, Coleiro called for partnerships founded on mutual respect, dialogue, reciprocity and shared prosperity, noting that geographical distance should be used to build bridges rather than create barriers.
He also emphasised the role of young people, describing them as not merely future beneficiaries of peace but its “present architects.”
Against the backdrop of rapidly evolving technology, social media, misinformation and intolerance, he called for greater investment in critical thinking, education, intercultural exchange, dialogue and meaningful youth participation in civic and economic life.
Coleiro further recognised teachers, parents, journalists, community leaders, volunteers, entrepreneurs, religious and cultural leaders and ordinary citizens as “everyday architects of peace,” whose daily choices can either strengthen understanding or deepen division.
He said governments, international organisations, diplomats, civil society, businesses, the media, communities and individuals all have responsibilities in building sustainable peace.
> “Let us make peace not simply something we commemorate once a year, but something we practice every day.”
Also speaking at the summit, Anthony Nwana M., Communication and Peacebuilding Advocate and IT professional, called for sustained investment in young people as a foundation for resilient and peaceful communities.
Speaking on “Investing in Young People: Building Resilience, Opportunity and a Culture of Peace,” Nwana drew on his experience in Cameroon’s North-West Region to highlight the far-reaching consequences of insecurity on young people.
He noted that conflict can disrupt education, livelihoods, family life, opportunities and the aspirations of an entire generation.
Nwana therefore argued that peace should be understood not only as the absence of violence, but also as the presence of opportunity, dignity, participation and hope.
> “Peace is not only the absence of violence; peace is also the presence of opportunity.”
He called for stronger support for education, skills development, entrepreneurship, technology, vocational training, creative industries and youth leadership, saying young people need meaningful pathways to contribute to their communities and shape solutions to challenges affecting their lives.
Nwana also urged society to move beyond treating young people merely as beneficiaries of peace initiatives, insisting that they must be actively involved in decision-making and peacebuilding.
> “Young people are not simply the future. They are already part of the present.”
On the growing influence of technology and social media, he warned that digital platforms, while capable of connecting communities and expanding access to information, can also amplify misinformation, rumours, fear and division.
He urged young people to think critically before posting or sharing information and to consider whether their communication contributes to understanding or deepens division.
> “Every time we post, share or comment, we are making an investment. The question is: what kind of world are we investing in?”
Nwana concluded with a call for society to give young people not only the responsibility to protect peace but also the education, opportunities and hope required to sustain it.
> “Don’t just ask young people to protect peace. Give them something worth protecting.”
The interventions by Coleiro and Nwana reinforced the summit’s central message that sustainable peace requires continuous investment in dialogue, young people, opportunity, responsible communication and shared responsibility across communities and nations.
