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In today's society, peace and human rights, which the world has strived for, are under considerable, unprecedented threats.
Human conflicts are always caused by humans, and therefore human dialog may be able to provide solutions.
We continue to believe in the power of dialog and imagination of each person as we all play a role in changing history. Solving conflicts begins with noticing small misunderstandings around us, asking questions, discussing the issue, and changing our awareness and society. For that, we need to consider, respect, and listen to others, find common grounds, and look for breakthroughs.
In this program, together with experts, we will discuss the importance of dialog and imagination and communicate it to the world.

【Reflection】
Under the theme “Raising Your Voice: Each Voice Becomes a Power,” an agenda-setting session and two theme sessions were held, moderated by Kaoru Nemoto (United Nations Information Centre, Tokyo). In the agenda-setting session, Nemoto asked each speaker—Sahel Rosa, Peter Barakan, Yoichi Watanabe, and four Kansai University students—about the social issues they are most concerned with at present and compiled the issues in a single list. The following session under the theme “The Power to Speak Up and Take Action” focused on how to address such diverse issues. The discussion highlighted the importance of the power by noting, for example, that some children talk about what they would like to be if they can become adults rather than when they become adults; that denying different value systems is equivalent to denying people’s lives; and that while many pray for peace, they must ask themselves what kind of peace they envision. In the final session, under the theme “A Mindset for Peace,” speakers exchanged views on the mindset necessary to safeguard peace and human rights. They were reminded of, among other points, the need to pause for three seconds to consider others’ feelings before speaking and the need to recognize that life itself is a miracle and should be lived fully, including on behalf of those who cannot; that the Expo helps counter hate and war; that one should not treat others in ways one dislikes; and that direct dialog with people on site is essential. The sessions thus conveyed the importance of continually engaging with the complex theme of peace and human rights through dialog and imagination to foster a better society.

【Post EXPO Initiatives】
In providing the session program, we aimed to propose the mindset for peace that allows us to change the world and society by our words and actions, as the interest and enthusiasm of many people are necessary to reform today's society that overflows with resignation and disinterest due to fake news and hate speech.
As the majority of the world population is said to be up to the age of 30, we included four students as speakers with the cooperation of Kansai University. The audience consisted of students and workers, who had a chance to exchange opinions directly with Kaoru Nemoto and the student speakers after the session.
Below are some of the comments from the post-session survey:
・ To respect human rights, not simple respect but dialog with others is truly necessary.
・ Listening to stories on various countries changed my view on peace and human rights.
・ I'd like to carry out corporate activities with renewed awareness of peace and human rights.
・ I felt that getting to know other people's feelings is all that matters.
・ It is important to get to know others and focus on not only differences but also shared points because it's normal that we are different.
・ I realized once again that war is not other people's business and that we should not take present happiness for granted.
・ It is obvious that we should not do things to others that we would not like to do to us, but I'd like to act on it.
・ I was touched by the words that you don't know what you've got until it's gone.
・ I found it necessary to have multifaceted perspectives, instead of a single biased one, to reexamine my stereotypes and what I take for granted.
・ I want to share and reflect on the words "we should question what kind of peace we pray for" with many people.
・ The earnest wish of those who talk about what they want to be "if" they can become adults, instead of "when" becoming adults, touched my heart.
・ It was a truly meaningful symposium. I'll share it with many people.
・ Peace should be considered from a wider perspective not limited to war.

We encouraged the audience (students and workers) to communicate the Association's official page (which features the program details) together with their opinions. These sessions in the “Theme Weeks“ program at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan strengthened understanding of peace and human rights and inspired future behavioral change (awareness and action). We believe this will become a legacy.