MAYOR Federico

Biography:

After a doctorate in Pharmacy, Professor Federico Mayor spent 16 years as a teacher, professor and then director of several institutes in the field of biochemistry, and then in the prevention of mental handicap. From 1974, he took on political responsibilities: Under-Secretary for Education and Science in the Spanish government (1974-75), Member of the Spanish Parliament (1977-78), Advisor to the Prime Minister (1977-78), Minister for Education and Science (1981-82) and Member of the European Parliament (1987). In 1978, he was appointed Assistant Director-General of UNESCO. He became Director-General of UNESCO from 1987 to 1999, guiding the organization to focus on the service of peace, tolerance, human rights and peaceful coexistence - and on the development of a culture of peace. This led UNESCO to create a Culture of Peace Program, whose work falls into 4 categories: - education for peace, human rights and democracy - the fight against poverty and exclusion - defending cultural pluralism and intercultural dialogue - conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Within this framework, a large number of international discussions were held on education for non-violence, the eradication of discrimination and the promotion of pluralism and international cooperation. The result was 30 Declarations expressing the will to promote education, science, culture, research and teaching, as well as justice and intellectual and moral solidarity. On September 13, 1999, the UN General Assembly approved the Declaration and Programme of Action for a Culture of Peace. In 2000, after his return to Spain, Federico Mayor created the Fundación Cultura de Paz. (Foundation for a Culture of Peace), to continue the work of promoting the transition from a culture of violence to the establishment of a culture of peace and tolerance in every area of human life. In December 2000, he organized the international meeting that unanimously approved the Madrid Declaration.