In brief
During the 30th Ibero‑American Summit in Madrid on Thursday, UN Secretary‑General António Guterres said that culture helps recognize shared humanity and should be integrated into education to foster critical thinking. He stressed that arts and humanities are essential for peace-building. The remarks highlighted culture as a global public good and a right inherent to human dignity.
At the 30th Ibero‑American Summit in Madrid on Thursday, UN Secretary‑General António Guterres said that culture is a fundamental right and the fabric of the human family, urging leaders to recognize its power for peace.
Guterres spoke to an audience of heads of state, diplomats and cultural leaders, remarking that recognizing culture’s role in unity is essential for a “shared humanity.” The comments came as the summit gathered 26 Ibero‑American heads of state to discuss political, economic and social cooperation.
"Culture teaches us to doubt, to qualify our views, to see nuance, to question and to put ourselves in other people’s shoes," Guterres said.
"Let us cultivate critical thinking – through more arts and humanities in education,"he added.
In the same speech, the secretary‑general noted that multiple languages and songs co‑exist but “they all tell the same story: that of a shared humanity.” He cited culture as the place where peace “begins” by helping people see humanity in former adversaries.
Political analysts see the remarks as an affirmation of UN support for cultural diplomacy. Several summit delegates echoed that culture can bridge divides, though the event’s broader agenda included trade and security matters as well.
While the summit’s focus extended to economic revitalization and climate policy, Guterres’ remarks highlighted the arts as a critical component for education reform across member states.
The UN has already outlined plans to promote cultural projects, a move that could influence education policy pathways in participating countries. The Secretary‑General’s comments enter a broader dialogue about embedding culture and arts in global governance frameworks.
Finally, the Secretary‑General’s address comes ahead of the transition to the next UN Secretary‑General, who is scheduled to assume office on 1 January 2027, according to recent UN guidance.
