World Forum for Peace

LET’S CELEBRATE 13 YEARS OF THE WORLD FORUM FOR PEACE TOGETHER WITH A SYMBOLIC BEGINNING: THE PEACE VILLAGE – TUESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2025 AT THE LUGANO CONGRESS PALACE

The opening day will be held on Tuesday 11 November 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano with our most eagerly awaited event: the Peace Village, which this year celebrates its 10^th anniversary.

This significant Village is dedicated to primary, middle, high school and vocational school students, with 11 interactive stations and new workshops led by experts, associations and professionals who are networking with us.

The following will participate in the various workshops: Culture Ticino Network Association by our president and founder A. Margherita Maffeis-Natale (in collaboration with AIESEC Lugano), Naturainonda project curated by Alessandra Melucci, Amici Ticino per il Burundi (AMTIBU) curated by Marco Barzaghini, the Associazione Telefono S.O.S Infanzia edited by Paolo Fragni and Tina Mantovani, the Rugby Lugano sports club edited by Diego Azzolini, Fondazione Città della Pace per i Bambini Basilicata (whose president is Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize winner), Associazione Kalkidan edited by Maha Kashef, Association for Sarva Seva Farms (ASSEFA/Gandhi’s Philosophy) curated by Katharina Kindler assisted by Pietro Tafaro, World Without Wars and Without Violence (MSGV) curated by Tiziana Volta, Suzanne Palermo (children’s illustrator and author), Pinuccia Soffientini (music therapist) and Ketty Magni (writer and journalist).

On the occasion of this special edition, the young participants will create a “Manifesto for Peace”, which will remain on display for the duration of the World Forum.

From 13:30 to 15:30, Dr. Luigi De Magistris, former Italian magistrate, will present his book ‘Poteri Occulti’. The event will be moderated by Prof. Annamaria Astrologo, scientific director of the Ticino Observatory on Organized Crime. The event is open to the public (by registration).

RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW AND TAKE PART IN THE SOLIDARITY SHOW “TOGETHER FOR PEACE” – TUESDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2025 FROM 20:00 IN THE AUDITORIUM OF PALAZZO DEI CONGRESSI IN LUGANO

You are all warmly invited to participate in this special solidarity event dedicated to the culture of peace and nonviolence, which will come to life through a ‘Living Room for Peace’ with the extraordinary participation of renowned guests and artists, including: Rosita Celentano presenter and actress; Nina Dimitri international singer; Dr. Luigi De Magistris former magistrate and Italian politician; Miriam Tirinzoni fashion designer; indie-pop singer-songwriter Diamante. The evening will also be enriched by performances from the students of the Mendrisio School of Music and Classical Arts (SMA), who will offer moments of great artistic value. The event will be moderated by Maristella Polli and Antonio Franzi.

Tickets for the performance are available on biglietteria.ch:

https://biglietteria.ch/evento/insieme-per-la-pace-2025-11-11-lugano/7430/detail

Prices: students and AVS users: CHF 20.00 – adults: CHF 25.00

Tickets for the event can be also purchased on-site on the evening of the event.

Thanks to your presence, our Association Culture Ticino Network will be able to continue to support the most needy in the Philippines and the projects in Ticino, but not only that, we will give a voice to those who today no longer have one and we will be united to launch a strong and clear message for a more just and peaceful world from Ticino to the whole world.

CULTURAL EVENING FOR PEACE AND SOLIDARITY GALA DINNER WITH RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL GUESTS – SATURDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2025 FROM 17:00 AT THE HOTEL DE LA PAIX

You are all warmly invited to attend this special evening full of emotions, a culture of peace and hope.

After the institutional greetings from local, national, and international authorities, an interesting Round Table will follow, focusing on the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and interreligious dialogue. There will be renowned international speakers, including Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu diplomat and secretary of the Vatican’s Department of Churches for Evangelization; war journalist Lucia Vastano; director Fabio Segatori joining remotely from Rome; and Father Jihad superior of the Monastery of Mar Musa in Syria. Through them, we will learn about the important interreligious work of Father Paolo Dall’Oglio. The moderator will be journalist Antonio Franzi.

The first part of the evening will be enlivened by the songs of the children’s choir “La Musica”, directed by Julia Gertseva.

The evening will continue with the traditional Charity Gala Dinner, enriched by powerful testimonies, surprises and entertainment, including the musical duo Le Unio, singer Diamante and a live artistic performance by painter Ilaria Ratti Salvioni.
The evening will be hosted by Maristella Polli.

During the evening, our Spyri Prize will also be awarded, the significant recognition established in 2013 to honour personalities and realities distinguished in the promotion of peace and human rights.

On this occasion, the ‘Hibakujumoku’ tree, a survivor of the bombings that devastated Hiroshima 80 years ago, will be entrusted trough Green Legacy Hiroshima, PEFC Italia and Mondo senza Guerre e senza Violenza. to the Culture Ticino Network Association.

Limited seating! The cost of the Charity dinner is CHF 120.00 per person.

SUNDAY  NOVEMBER 23 2025 FROM 6.30 P.M. GRAND FINAL EVENT: PRESENTATION OF THE SYMBOLIC “HIBAKUJOMOKU” TREE AND TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION FOR UNIVERSAL PEACE

The 13^th edition of the World Forum for Peace will conclude with the important presentation of the symbolic Hibakujumoku tree, a survivor of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima. There will be entrustment ceremony of our Association with the participation of local and religious authorities, as well as international guests.

We are also pleased to announce that the City of Lugano will be a key partner in the realization of this important project, along with Liceo Pio XII of Breganzona, which will take care of the tree by placing it in the school’s garden.

The event will be followed by the “Torchlight Procession for Universal Peace”, which will start from Piazza Riforma and end at the Lugano Cathedral.

Starting from 8:00 PM, there will also be the opportunity to attend the Jubilee Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu and Bishop Alain de Raemy.

In case of bad weather, the official tree presentation ceremony will take place from 7:00 PM to approximately 7:45 PM inside the Lugano Cathedral.

UNITED TO BUILD A MORE PEACEFUL AND JUST WORLD!

The World Forum for Peace aims to be a place for meeting, reflection and concrete action. Promoting the culture of peace and non-violence is not only an objective, but an urgent necessity. This Forum is a valuable opportunity to listen to inspiring voices, to discuss current issues and to build together a future based on dignity, equity and dialogue..

We invite you to participate with an open heart and a constructive spirit. Every presence, every word, every gesture can make a difference. Because only together can we cultivate seeds of hope and real change.

For further information and registration: tel. +41 91 922 95 18