The Evidence: What the Experts Say

Early Childhood Peace Consortium Inauguration — Photo by N. Shemrah Fallon
Melvin Ming, CEO Sesame Workshop (Photo N.S. Fallon)

The following presentations were given by world experts from the fields of science, practice and media who were featured at the global launch of the Early Childhood Peace Consortium at UNICEF NY, 23 September 2013.

Taking Academic Action

Scientific Evidence Chair

alt text — James F. Leckman, MD, Neison Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Psychology and Pediatrics at Yale University

"We need to take action to make our world a better place for our children and for future generations. The academic community will be one of the partners in this important undertaking to refine and implement in a sustainable fashion ECD programs of proven value."

James F. Leckman, MD, Neison Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Psychology and Pediatrics at Yale University, ECPC Launch Event 20 Sept 2013

PPT Presentation: "Initial Academic Community"

The Epigenetic Evidence

Science Presenter

"The experience of the child is 'biologically embedded' and serves to influence health and capacity over the lifespan" and that "this effect is apparent even at the level of the DNA of the individual; the activity of genes implicated in brain development and function is directly regulated by the social environment."

Dr. Michael Meaney, Professor of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University and Adjunct Senior Investigator in the Singapore Institute for Clinical Studies, ECPC Launch Event 20 Sept 2013

PPT Presentation: "Early environmental regulation of gene expression: How early experience exerts a sustained influence on neuronal function"

Surest Pathway Toward Peace Building

Practice Presenter

"Supporting early childhood development as well as transforming families, causes ripple effects to the community. This is at the core of societal development and is possibly the most enduring and the surest pathway toward peace building."

Ciğdem Kağıtçıbaşı, Ph.D, Professor of Psychology at Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey. A founding member of AÇEV. ECPC Launch Event 20 Sept 2013

PPT Presentation: "Early Child Development as a Pathway to Peace: ACEV Experience"

A Network of Alliances

Violence Prev/Peace Promotion Panelist

Network on Peace Building/UNA: Marked the development of successful strategies to implement programs in situations of emergency, high vulnerability, fragility and conflict, and demonstrated the importance of network alliances and partnerships in the process of peace building through ECD.

Dr. Siobhan Fitzpatrick, CEO Early Years, Northern Ireland, ECPC Launch Event 20 Sept 2013

PPT Presentation: "The Power of Early Childhood Developments in Conflict and Post Conflict Societies"

Harnessing the Power of Media

Media Panelist

Our mission is to value every child, harness the educational power of media to help all children to reach their highest potential, with the promise that the next generation can bring people together and fuel burgeoning social change."

Dr. Charlotte Frances Cole, Senior Vice President of Global Education at Sesame Workshop, ECPC Launch Event 20 Sept 2013

PPT Presentation: "Begin with the Children: How Sesame Street is Working to Change Our World"