President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca was one of the guests of honour at the Global Hope Coalition launch by UNESCO, at the New York Public Library, and urged people to walk along paths leading to peace.

The Global Hope Coalition by UNESCO pursues three principal objectives: the empowerment of heroes in the fight against violent extremism; the preservation and the protection of cultural heritage at risk; and the building of bridges through cross-cultural dialogue.

The President said that the Global Hope Coalition will send a powerful message to all people of goodwill - "a message which should encourage all people to understand that each and every one of us has a role to play, to nurture, and to work for sustainable peace." The President explained that this is also a message of "our united commitment" to stand up for universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, for the benefit of all humanity.

President Coleiro Preca said that she is pleased that the President's Foundation for the Well-being of Society embraces much of the coalition's same aims and objectives in its work of peace, which is particularly targeted to nurture and empower children and young people.

 "I believe that we must work together to celebrate the strength and enrichment of our diversity in all its forms"

"It is essential that we intensify processes of intercultural encounters and interfaith dialogue, to overcome suspicion, and to ensure that we can live together in dignity", said the President, adding that "we must keep reaching out" across the borders and artificial barriers that are constraining us.

"All of us, including authorities and organisations, must keep empowering our children and young people"

This can be done through the provision of safe and welcoming spaces, where children voices can be heard, she said, adding that opportunities for them to connect with each other and with others, especially those who have been marginalised and oppressed, must be created.

"An appropriate environment must be created for individuals and groups who have been subjected to increased vulnerability to being empowered and move out of the periphery of our societies."

 "We must facilitate their journey into the centre of our discourse, to share their precious insights, and enable them to become key contributors in all actions which we take", the President said.

President Coleiro Preca insisted that children should be empowered to know their choices and to make them wisely.

"We must make the choice for hope. We must make the choice for dignity and respect. We must make the choice to nurture the best within ourselves, and to openly and freely share it with all of the humanity", the President said.

Lastly, the President spoke on the synergies created by the Global Hope Coalition and the partnerships it has already fostered, saying that this "will continue to promote our shared aspirations for a global culture of peace and well-being".