THE SKIN OF THE EARTH – Multilateralism & Diplomacy for Peace

Since 2018, 24 April has been declared the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace by the United Nations. Multilateralism refers to cooperation with at least three states, based on consultation, inclusion and solidarity.
The cradle of contemporary Western political philosophy goes back to humanism. Humanism is based on values of equality, responsibility, tolerance, solidarity, fairness and justice.

One of the Council’s buildings is called after Justus Lipsius (1547-1606), a renowned humanist, philosopher and historian who lived and taught in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. The bronze statue in the council is a replica after the statue in Overijse. Lipsius’ study and manuscripts as well as a portrait by his contemporary Pieter-Paulus Rubens can be found at the Plantin-Moretus museum in Antwerp. Konrad Peutinger (1485-1547), a German humanist, lawyer, diplomat, politician and economist, creates the Tabula Peutineriana, aka Peutinger map, a copy of a Roman travel map from 3rd or 4th century. It is a schematic representation of the road network in the Roman Empire. The oldest known copy of the map dates from the XIII century and is kept in the Austrian National Library in Vienna. In the Justus Lipsius building, there is a replica of the Peutinger map on the floor over 30 m long.

Contemporary artists also engage in world mapping, providing fresh and innovative views of the world. The Belgian Presidency engages the dialogue between the permanent art works in the Council, the map by Peutinger and Triomph of Peace by French artist Laurent Joubert, and temporary contemporary world views by Thierry Tillier, Lieven De Boeck, Jocelyne Coster and Adrien Tirtiaux. The aim is to draw attention to encourage awareness of blind spots, new perspectives, curiosity and openness so that multilateralism and a sense of peace can continue to prevail.