The Paris Peace Forum closed its annual meeting with a clear message. Over two days, officials from around the world came together with business leaders, civil society and nonprofit representatives, academics, and members of the press to discuss solutions to the challenges we face and find a way forward.
In total, 3,500 participants from 98 nationalities took part in more than 80 sessions and roundtables, bringing unique perspectives and insights to the world’s shared issues, from geopolitics and human rights to development and climate. Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity were also high on the agenda, as the Forum continues its work to ensure that technology serves the public interest.
This year’s edition hosted a landmark Child Summit, positioning the Paris Peace Forum as a key diplomatic event on the international agenda for children’s rights and wellbeing. The Summit kicked off three initiatives to turn shared commitments into coordinated action.
The Children First Declaration, brought together more than 50 countries, 7 international organizations, and 21 non-governmental organizations, philanthropies and businesses, all committed to putting children at the heart of their policies, programs and actions.
The Action Hub for Children is a multi-stakeholder platform designed to make children’s wellbeing a core corporate priority. It was launched in a discussion with representatives from France, South Africa, the European Commission, the World Bank, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the OECD, the Gates Foundation, the Aga Khan Foundation, the Institute of Philanthropy, Save the Children International, ICMEC, and companies including Danone, Generali, Sanofi, and Microsoft.
The third initiative, the Child Priority Framework, places child health, education, nutrition, protection, and psychosocial wellbeing at the center of global development efforts. It aims to show the returns of child-focused investment and encourage greater political and financial commitment.
During the closing ceremony, the Forum was proud to announce the 10 Scale-Up projects selected for support throughout 2027. Spanning South America to East Asia, and ranging from solar energy integration to ocean cleanup and career development, this year’s projects embody the spirit of the Paris Peace Forum: bringing communities together for the common good.
Around 400 members of our #YouthTrack attended the Forum this year: students and young professionals taking part in a year-long program of exclusive events designed to amplify their voices. We asked them what they appreciated most about the Forum.