Jakarta, Oct. 9 -- Indonesia pledged to strengthen UNESCO's role as a pillar of world peace through education, science, culture and information access, Culture Minister Fadli Zon told the UN agency's executive board.

Fadli made the pledge at the UNESCO Executive Board meeting in Paris on Thursday (Oct 8) local time, amid global challenges ranging from conflict, displacement and inequality to the climate crisis and technological change.

"Lasting peace cannot be secured through political agreements alone," Fadli said in a statement on Friday.

He voiced concern about conflicts that hit civil society, including schools, universities, libraries, religious sites, cultural heritage, journalists and educators.

He urged all parties to resolve ...