A Symbolic Encounter in Washington: SSCC Chairman Meets Hedva Ser to Advance Peace and Indigenous Wisdom

Collaborative Cultural Diplomacy and Environmental Vision in Action

Viktor Sebek, Chairman of the South-South Cooperation Council on Sustainable Development (SSCC), met with Hedva Ser, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Diplomacy and a distinguished member of the SSCC Policy Advisory Board. Both were in the U.S. capital on separate missions, but took this opportunity to meet prior to scheduled meetings in Paris in July.

The agenda was rooted in action and vision. The two leaders discussed the upcoming Tree of Peace ceremonies, which will take place in Marawi, the Philippines, in November 2025, and in Quito, Ecuador, during the first quarter of 2026. These tree plantings are more than ceremonial acts—they serve as living monuments to reconciliation, resilience, and cross-cultural solidarity.

The city of Marawi—once devastated by conflict between Philippine government forces and pro-ISIS militants in 2017—continues to recover from one of the most intense urban battles in Southeast Asia since WWII. As highlighted in a recent analysis by CSIS, the delayed rehabilitation and fragile peace process in Marawi remain emblematic of broader challenges in post-conflict societies. Planting the Tree of Peace in this context becomes a powerful statement of hope and global unity.

Equally compelling is the decision to bring the Tree of Peace to Quito, a capital city deeply intertwined with Andean ancestral wisdom. The timing, aligned with regional climate diplomacy, underscores SSCC’s commitment to intercultural dialogue and sustainable development across continents.

Further, the meeting explored UNESCO’s participation in SSCC’s forthcoming Forum on Ancestral Wisdom and Environmental Protection, a high-level event that will gather Indigenous leaders and policymakers from South and Central America, Africa, and Asia. This initiative resonates with SSCC’s core mission—to create bridges between traditional knowledge systems and contemporary sustainability efforts.