Peace Flame as a symbol for world peace
in front of the Peace Palace 

A monument symbolizing global peace has been unveiled in front of the Peace Palace on 17 April 2002. The monument was designed by the Dutch sculptor and graphic designer Heleen van der Sande and contains the peace flame that will burn forever.   
 

Several peace flames are already burning throughout the world, but the flame in front of the Peace Palace is the first one to be open to the public. The location chosen to host a peace flame is made based on the fact that important decisions regarding international politics, culture and religion are made there. All peace flames are directly descended from the original World Peace Flame which was founded in 1999. At that time, five peace flames were lit by important representatives from Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe, and were then transported to Wales by the Royal Dutch Air Force. There the five flames were combined to light one big flame. A group of hikers, among them the peace activist Mansukh Patel, have walked from Wales to The Hague carrying the flame. They arrived in The Hague on 17 April, 2002.

The Peace Monument itself, in which the flame burns, has a rather simple design, which, according to the designer, emphasizes that the symbol of the Monument is contained inside it: the flame that burns forever. A rare natural stone was used for the Monument, called bahia azul.

It is not coincidence that the city of The Hague was chosen to be the location for this first public peace flame. The Hague has reached the status of city of international law and peace, symbolized by the establishment of several bodies working in this area such as the International Criminal Court, the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and Europol. The Peace Palace, in which the International Court of Justice of the United Nations is established, is an important Hague symbol for international law and peace.

Princess Irene van Lippe-Bisterfeld of the Netherlands and Mayor Deetman of The Hague both held speeches, during a ceremony in which the Peace Monument was unveiled and the peace flame was ignited. Princess Irene then asked for a moment of silence in which to think about the importance of the flame as a symbol of peace.

Princess Irene is committed to the Life Foundation International (LFI), which is the organization behind the flame. The foundation’s main goal is to achieve world peace, and tries to reach that goal on a step by step basis. Founder Mansukh Patel, sometimes referred to as the young Gandhi, organizes peace walks in areas of crisis all over the world. In addition, he initiates programs together with LFI to help traumatized victims of war and to provide for other support and help.