The United Nations proclaimed
the International Day of Conscience
Building a conscience-based safety net to benefit all beings and
ensure a sustainable future.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze
Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men
Vice President of the Association of World Citizens,
NGO in Consultative Status with ECOSOC and Associated with the UN DPI
President of the Federation of World Peace and Love
July 25, 2025
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good day!
On July 25, 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 73/329, establishing the “International Day of Conscience,” the first observance in human history dedicated to reminding people of the importance of introspection and self-reflection. The resolution calls upon the international community to foster a world where love and mutual support are the norm. This proclamation serves as a powerful reminder that only by practicing conscience can we awaken the innate compassion within each of us. Each small, daily act of renewing compassion becomes a giant step toward building lasting world peace.
The year 2025 marks the sixth anniversary of the International Day of Conscience. In celebration, the Federation of World Peace and Love hosted the “World Leaders Summit of Love and Peace,” the “Bell of World Peace and Love” ringing ceremony, and a series of cultural exchange events in Vienna. The occasion also celebrated the United Nations’ recent adoption—on March 4—of a resolution designating July 12 each year as the International Day of Hope. This symbolic act reflects humanity’s aspiration for a world awakened by conscience, bringing renewed hope to all. Through continued concrete actions, the Federation calls on all nations and societies to engage in peaceful dialogue and to awaken the conscious awareness within each individual to coexist in harmony. Leaders from various countries and sectors expressed their shared commitment to advancing global peace and voiced their hope that more people will join in the collective effort to build a world of lasting and sustainable peace.
With conscience as the foundation and benefiting all beings as the goal, the wheel of time has opened a greater vision for humanity. This past April, I put forth an initiative at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna, proposing the “Declaration of Transparency and Integrity” to highlight the key elements of conscience-led governance. Transparency is essential to fostering mutual trust among people, institutions, and systems, which in turn leads to social harmony. The hope is to unite the core force of kindness across individuals, organizations, societies and nations to create a secure humanitarian safety net, accelerate the promotion of a culture of love and peace, and advance the goal of sustainable development for our planet.
Looking around at our living environment, wars and conflicts continue unabated in many regions, the threat of epidemics looms around us, and massive natural disasters have created a world filled with instability and uncertainty. Accelerating the awakening of humanity’s conscience is an urgent wake-up call for humanity amid doomsday warnings and a decisive factor for the sustainable development on Earth. I hope that every global citizen will take one minute each day to quietly reflect and find inner peace. When the mind is calm and clear, one can discern right from wrong and act with “transparency and integrity” as guiding principles, uphold human rights, and allow justice and fairness to shine. Let us learn to resolve conflicts with love, take serving others as our mission, and let positive thinking open the door to a future of hope and light.
The International Day of Conscience is an opportunity to awaken humanity, marking a shift from shared ideals to concrete action. From individuals and families to schools and broader society, we must nurture the hope of love and peace, allowing the seeds of kindness within people’s hearts to take root, grow, and thrive. In doing so, we can bring forth the moral dimension of human nature, uphold humanitarian values, protect human rights, and strive for sustainable development. Conscience is not merely a slogan called out on a single day of commemoration, but a belief and practice that can be carried out continually through mutual support and cooperation in daily life.
“With conscience, a peaceful world follows. With happiness, joyful families arrive.” Despite the growing challenges around the world, let us encourage one another, hold on to hope, and move forward with courage for the sake of love. Let each person take positive action and practice kindness in daily life, so that peace is no longer just a dream, but a shared reality for all.
Thank you all!