The Mission Organizes a High-Level Panel Discussion on Buddha, Geneva Conventions, and World Peace
The Permanent Mission organized a High-Level Panel Discussion on the theme ‘Buddha, Geneva Conventions and World Peace’ on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at the Palais des Nations in Geneva today.
H.E. Ambassador Mr. Ram Prasad Subedi, Permanent Representative of Nepal, H.E. Ambassador Mr. Markus Leitner, Head of the Asia Pacific Division at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, H.E. Ambassador Ms. Davaasuren Gerelmaa, Permanent Representative of Mongolia, H.E. Ambassador Ms. Usana Berananda, Permanent Representative of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), H.E. Mr. David Fernández Puyana, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of UPEACE, Ms. Eva Svoboda, Director for International Law, Policy, and Archives at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Ms. Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute delivered insightful remarks on the theme and shed light on the complementarity of Buddha’s teachings of non-violence (ahimsa), compassion (karuṇā), mindfulness, and the pursuit of peaceful coexistence with the humanitarian ethos underlying in the Geneva Conventions to limit wars and protect people.
Ambassador Subedi set the scene for the panel discussion through his opening remarks reflecting on Buddha’s teachings and closing thoughts recognizing peace as a common good. Speaking at the program, Ambassador Leitner recalled the contribution of International Geneva to the global peace. In view of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Nepal and Switzerland, he underscored the connections between mountains and people and recalled the seventy years of cooperation as friendship extending from cheese to peace.
Following the interventions from the panelists, Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Mexico, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Representatives of Norway and Pakistan, delivered remarks from the floor. More than one hundred participants comprising the representatives of the Government of Switzerland, Permanent Representatives, Heads of the International Organizations and representatives of academia, civil society, and other stakeholders attended the panel discussion.
The event provided an opportunity to showcase 70 years of diplomatic ties between Nepal and Switzerland, revisit the complementarity between Buddha’s teachings and Geneva Conventions, reconnect Lumbini and Geneva and prioritize peace.
Geneva
8 May 2026
