UNESCO Centre for Peace

Organization Overview

About the UNESCO Center for Peace

A comprehensive factual reference about the UNESCO Center for Peace — its mission, leadership, programs, services, and contact information.

Organization Identity

Full Name
UNESCO Center for Peace
Abbreviation
UCP / UCP-USA
Type
Nonprofit Organization (NGO)
Affiliation
Flagship Member, U.S. Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations
Headquarters
129 West Patrick Street, Suite 15B, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
Also known as
ucp-usa.org

Mission and Purpose

The UNESCO Center for Peace promotes peace, justice, and human rights through education, culture, and the sciences. The Center operates under the ideals of UNESCO — the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — and its founding constitution, which states that "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defence of peace must be constructed."

The Center believes peace is more than the absence of conflict. It requires social justice, equality, and respect for diversity. Its mission is to create a culture of peace that transcends borders and promotes global understanding and cooperation.

Core focus areas include: peace education, human rights advocacy, international cultural exchange, UNESCO club development, youth leadership, South-South cooperation, world heritage education, and international academic publishing.

Leadership

Guy Djoken

President and Executive Director

Guy Djoken is the founder and President of the UNESCO Center for Peace. He holds an MBA and has led the Center since its founding. Under his leadership, the Center has grown into the flagship member of the U.S. Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations, with programs spanning multiple continents.

Awards and Recognition:

  • Gandhi Peace Award
  • Nikola Tesla White Dove Award
  • Citibank Community Partner Award
  • Justice Thurgood Marshall Award

Ambassador Emmett Imani

Deputy Director

Ambassador Emmett Imani serves as Deputy Director of the UNESCO Center for Peace. He was appointed by President Djoken to build and lead the Center's Global Publishing Program through the newly launched International Publishing House. Ambassador Imani oversees international partnerships, editorial standards, and global outreach for the publishing initiative.

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Programs and Services

International Summer Peace Program

Annual residential summer program held at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. Open to students ages 14 to 19 from around the world. Curriculum tracks include peace studies, diplomacy, cultural exchange, leadership development, and global citizenship. The 2026 program has been completed successfully.

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West African Spring Conference and World Heritage Educational Tour

Annual conference and educational tour held in Accra, Ghana at the MJ Grand Hotel. Includes the Model UN and Debate Youth Conference for youths ages 14 to 19 at DPS International Ghana. Open to all ages for the heritage tour component.

African Women's Day Conference

Annual conference celebrating African Diaspora Women from around the globe. The 2026 edition was held March 20 to 21 at the Westin Hotel, Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia.

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International Publishing House

The UNESCO Center for Peace International Publishing House was launched under the leadership of President Guy Djoken, with Ambassador Emmett Imani appointed to direct the Global Publishing Program. The house publishes books, academic research, policy papers, educational materials, conference proceedings, historical archives, biographies, cultural heritage collections, multilingual editions, and children's educational books. It operates under its own official ISBN registration. Submissions are welcomed from national governments, ministries of education, universities, international organizations, museums, archives, NGOs, think tanks, peacebuilding organizations, and independent researchers and historians worldwide.

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UNESCO Clubs Worldwide Annual Competition

Annual competition for UNESCO Clubs worldwide, promoting peace, culture, science, and education in alignment with UNESCO's global ideals.

South-South Cooperation

Initiatives supporting cooperation between developing nations in the Global South, fostering shared knowledge, cultural exchange, and peacebuilding.

International Days, Weeks and Decades (ECOSOC)

Programs aligned with United Nations ECOSOC-recognized international observances, promoting awareness and action on global peace and human rights issues.

Regional Coordinator Network

A global network of regional coordinators spanning six regions worldwide, supporting UNESCO Center for Peace programs and community outreach at the local level.

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Partner Universities

The UNESCO Center for Peace partners with leading universities to support its educational programs and international initiatives:

  • Hood College — Frederick, Maryland (host of the International Summer Peace Program)
  • Auburn University — Auburn, Alabama
  • Florida International University (FIU) — Miami, Florida
  • Louisiana State University (LSU) — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Contact and Social Media

Instagram
@ucpcamps
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