World Art Day International Forum

Art & Human Dignity:
Human Rights and Healing Arts for a Culture of Peace

Created and Directed by Dr Guila Clara Kessous,

UNESCO Artist for Peace & Peace Ambassador from the Universal Circle of Peace Ambassadors (Geneva)

Wednesday April 23, 2025

3.00 pm – 6.00 pm CET (Paris time)

UNESCO’s Headquarters, Room II

Celebrating Art & Human Dignity

Dr. Guila Clara Kessous is organizing the forum “Art & Human Dignity: Human Rights and Healing Arts for a Culture of Peace” under the High Patronage of the National French Comission of Unesco. The event held at the time of World Art Day aims to examine the positive impact of the arts in promoting global peace, human rights, health, and well-being.

“The impact of art is underestimated today. We have a limited view of the artist as someone who produces beauty devoid of social conscience. In response, many artists decide to combine activism and art to become ‘artivists’ – offering their talents to alleviate suffering, promote peace and prevent war.”

Dr. Guila Clara Kessous

UNESCO Artist for Peace, and Ambassador for Peace of the Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace (Geneva)

This forum, aligned with UNESCO’s mandate to promote the arts as a bridge across cultures, ideologies, languages and geographies, reflects the crucial use of arts as an enabler for healing and social cohesion, contributing to consolidating a culture of peace.

REGISTRATION

PROGRAM

3:00 pm – Opening Speech by Dr. Guila Clara Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace & Peace Ambassador, Director of Femina Vox International Forum with exceptional participation of dancer Maxime Dereymez

3:15pm – Opening Remark by Mr François Laurent, culture and creation advisor, French National Commission for UNESCO, French Ministry of Culture

3:20 pm – Artistic Performance – Dancer Mrs Berenice Pretat “La Loie Fuller” Choreography by Claire Duport

3:30 pm – Roundtable no.1: Art & Care

A signature roundtable featuring professional healthcare giver attesting the power of art in the process of healing
Focus on the role of art therapy
Mrs Isabelle Wachsmuth, World Health Organization
Dr Claire Georges-Tarragano, Medical Head of Healthcare Access Department, St Louis Hospital
Mrs Laure Mayoud, Clinical Psychologist

4:10 pm – Artistic Performance – Visual Art by Mrs. Isabelle Wachsmuth, World Health Organization with Dance Troupe "Elles dansent" dance art by cancer patients.

4:16 pm – Artistic Performance – Mrs. Natasha Saint-Pier, awarded Canadian singer, "Tu Trouveras"

4:20 pm – Roundtable no.2: Art, human rights and social health

High-level roundtable featuring artists who are intervening in conflict zone
Focus on the role of “artivist” combining art and activism
Mrs. Natasha Saint-Pier, awarded Canadian singer
Mrs. Aishwarya Sehgal, Associate Program Specialist, Inclusion, Rights and Intercultural Dialogue Section, Research, Ethics and Inclusion Division, Unesco

5:00 pm – Artistic Performance – Choir Renanim Paris Kolot, an intercultural European chorus

5:10 pm – Roundtable no.3: Art & Peace Education

A roundtable presenting the crucial role of art in peace education to prevent conflict
This roundtable will present concrete programs to develop peacemaking through artistic initiatives
Mrs. Alma Rota, Publisher of Rolling Stone Magazine France
Mrs. Sarah Noble, Head of Global Engagement Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
Mr. Mayiha Ta Nguidjoe Nyemek, Head of choir "Voices without borders"

5.50 pm – Wrap up by Dr. Guila Clara Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace & Peace Ambassador, Director of Femina Vox International Forum

6.00 pm – Artistic Performance - Mrs. Anna Torres, awarded Brazilian singer