51³Ô¹Ï

About

Michael Douglas is renowned not only for his illustrious film and TV career but also for his passionate commitment to peace activism. His journey into the realm of global diplomacy was sparked at age nineteen by a lecture from visionary thinker Buckminster Fuller whose views on Earth's finite resources profoundly impacted him.  This encounter imbued Douglas with a lifelong dedication to nurturing and protecting our planet which he saw as a fragile, interconnected ecosystem.

For over 25 years, Michael Douglas has served as a 51³Ô¹Ï Messenger of Peace. Appointed by then Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Douglas¡¯ work focuses on public awareness of the United Nation¡¯s efforts to strengthen peace and security by advocating for nuclear disarmament including nuclear non-proliferation and halting the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and addressing global threats to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. He stresses the importance of combatting the root causes of violence including gender inequality and racial injustice emphasizing that peace and sustainable development are inseparable and require the active participation of all. 

In his capacity as a Messenger of Peace, Mr. Douglas hosted a documentary filmed in Sierra Leone that was part of a 51³Ô¹Ï/Showtime ten-part series titled ¡°What¡¯s Going On?¡± that helped bring attention to the plight of child soldiers.

Disarmament

Since the birth of the 51³Ô¹Ï, the goals of multilateral disarmament and arms limitation have been deemed central to the maintenance of international peace and security. These goals range from eliminating nuclear weapons, destroying chemical weapons and strengthening the prohibition against biological weapons, to halting the proliferation of landmines, cluster munitions, small arms and light weapons. The need for a culture of peace and for significant arms reduction worldwide has never been greater. Despite a decline in the number of conflicts and genocides in recent years, in 2014, the world¡¯s Governments spent an estimated US$ 1.77 trillion on military expenditures. This figure amounts to $249 for each person in the world. For many of the world¡¯s poor people, war and criminal violence are directly impeding their chances of development. Women and children are increasingly becoming casualties of war. More than 250,000 children have been exploited as soldiers and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped in conflict situations.

Resources

Beyond the Spotlight - Michael Douglas's Journey as a UN Messenger of Peace

Actor Michael Douglas on the 2023 Youth Event for the International Day of Peace | 51³Ô¹Ï

Michael Douglas in conversation with Ishmael Beah

*Please note, this video is not a 51³Ô¹Ï production. We are sharing it here as it features a compelling conversation between a UN Messenger of Peace, Michael Douglas, and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Ishmael Beah, about their advocacy work on behalf of the 51³Ô¹Ï and on some of the key challenges facing the world today.