Italian
Repudiate war, honor the victims, build peace
The National Coordination of Teachers of Human Rights celebrated June 2, the Italian Republic Day, reaffirming the centrality of historical memory and the educational role of schools in promoting the foundational values of democracy and peace.
The Republic was born from an act of popular will in 1946, after twenty years of Nazi-Fascist dictatorship and two world wars that had devastated Europe and the world. The Constitution, the fruit of that civil rebirth, not only restored dignity to the citizens, but clearly established a fundamental principle: “Italy repudiates war as an instrument of offense against the freedom of other peoples” (art. 11).
As we celebrate that historic choice, we cannot ignore the dramatic return of war in the heart of Europe and in many other parts of the world. The war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, the forgotten armed crises in Africa, such as in Sudan or the Democratic Republic of Congo, remind us every day of how fragile peace is, and how urgent it is to defend it.
For this reason, we symbolically dedicate the Republic Day to the innocent victims of past and present civil and military wars: to those who have lost their lives defending the values of freedom, to those who have lost it without ever being able to choose. The Republic was also born to prevent these tragedies from happening again.
Schools, as places for building critical consciousness, have the duty today of not reducing June 2nd to a simple ceremonial celebration, but transforming it into an opportunity for education on peace, democratic responsibility, and understanding of the global world. Educational paths, discussions on ongoing conflicts, study of the Constitution, critical readings, and meetings with witnesses are valuable tools to give meaning to this commemoration.
The National Coordination of Teachers of Human Rights reaffirms its commitment to promote an education on civil rights aimed at training active, supportive, and aware citizens, in line with a Republic that lives by the principles of the Constitution and in the hearts of those who make them their own.
“Behind every article of the Constitution lies the sacrifice of thousands of young people. It is not a dead document, it is a testament.” (Sandro Pertini)
