Ambassador Chowdhury on Forgiveness
In this conversation, I sit down with Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, whose decades of global peace work remind us that true peace isn’t just the end of war — it’s the end of prejudice, injustice, and inequality. He shares how forgiveness and gratitude form the heart of the culture of peace, and why women’s equality and empowerment are essential to it. From Hiroshima to Ashland, Oregon, his message is clear: Real peace grows from local acts of love and equality.
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury is a former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, widely recognized for championing the global “culture of peace.” He led the adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security — the first to link women’s equality to global peace. His recent book, Creating the Culture of Peace: A Clarion Call for Individual and Collective Transformation, distills decades of diplomatic experience into a call for forgiveness, compassion, and equality.
Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of “Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness” and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.
Be Part of Eileen’s Community
Subscribe to Political Forgiveness podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.
Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness
Time Codes
00:00 Introduction to the Culture of Peace
00:38 Meet Ambassador Chowdhury
03:10 Ambassador Chowdhury’s Early Life and Career
06:57 The Role of Women in Peace and Security
12:49 The Importance of Community in Promoting Peace
19:21 The Power of Gratitude
24:19 Ambassador Chowdhury’s Reflections and Advice
29:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
