On 30 June 2026, UN House Brussels hosted a special event to commemorate the Day of Vesak, bringing together diplomatic representatives, Belgian institutions, the European Parliament, civil society and Buddhist communities.

Recognized by the General Assembly as the day most sacred to Buddhists, Vesak commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. The Brussels event, the first of its kind at UN House, focused on the universal values of peace, compassion, non-violence and harmonious coexistence at a time of rising global tensions.

The event was co-hosted by the Embassies of Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, together with the United Nations Office in Brussels and the Buddhist Union of Belgium.

In her remarks, Ms. Camilla Brückner, Director of the UN/UNDP Office in Brussels, underlined the importance of cultivating kindness, compassion and mindful communication in daily life, noting that these values are essential to rebuilding peace, trust and strengthening global cooperation.