Education most important of all global priorities: Yogi

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday that education remains the most important of all priorities worldwide and meaningful dialogue at the level of nations must be revived to respond to the biggest challenges confronting the world.

"The real problem confronting the world is that we no longer talk to each other. This conference is an important platform to revive dialogue," he said while speaking at the inaugural session of the 26th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World (ICCJW) at City Montessori School, Kanpur Road campus, where 52 chief justices, former presidents, former prime ministers, speakers of parliaments and eminent jurists from across 52 countries are participating.

Terming India a civilization that has always embraced global harmony, Adityanath said: “India has, for thousands of years, viewed the entire world as one family. There is no faith, sect or tradition in the world that India has not protected or nurtured.”

While the basic principles spelt out at the time of the UN’s formation remain relevant, the CM stressed that the world must now widen its focus to include contemporary challenges such as cybersecurity, environmental protection, and global terrorism.

He said the world, with the emerging technologies throwing up unparalleled challenges, requires a fairer, more inclusive, and responsive global system.

"While emerging technologies are making life easier, they also bring in unprecedented challenges like cybercrime, data theft and many other new problems. At such a time, justice and morality can play a vital role in shaping global peace and human civilisation. We should reconsider the UN's declaration 80 years ago: that the world needs a more just, inclusive and responsive global system. Eighty years on, this declaration remains relevant today," said the CM.

“We must not remain confined to old issues. The threats we face today — from data theft to climate challenges and terrorism — demand collective preparedness,” he added.

Adityanath pressed on the urgent need to strengthen the cyber law frameworks against rising incidents of data theft, cyber fraud, and the misuse of identity. He highlighted that global cooperation in international law and digital ethics is very important to ensure that technology serves humanity, preserving fairness, privacy, and equality even in a world ruled by algorithms.

He called on the world’s leaders in judiciaries to take justice and morality as guiding forces for tackling these emerging challenges: protecting the shared values of civilisation amid rapid digital change.

The CM warned that crises occurring in one region can rapidly spread to others. “If there is a fire in someone else’s house and we sleep peacefully thinking it won’t affect us, the flames may reach our homes the next day. Covid 19 has shown how interconnected humanity is.”

The CM elaborated, "We must ensure that children are not burdened or stressed by heavy school bags. More than 2.5 billion children around the world have a right to quality education." Welcoming the global jurists to Uttar Pradesh, he reiterated, “As the country’s largest state, we are honoured by your presence. May this conference strengthen international dialogue and the shared vision of a harmonious world.” Adityanath paid glowing tribute to CMS founder, late Jagdish Gandhi, for starting a platform that brings greater understanding among people of the world. Other prominent speakers present on the occasion included CMS founder-director Bharti Gandhi, manager Geeta Kingdon and principal of CMS Rajajipuram Abha Anant.