UNIC New Delhi collaborated with Delhi Public School
in observing International Day of Peace 2007 at which students
spoke on the importance of world peace in several languages.
They were dressed as citizens of the various countries of the world.
Dr. Karan Singh, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Ministry of External Affairs’
Indian Council for Cultural Relations was Chief Guest. UNIC Director Shalini Dewan addressed
the student community and delivered the message of the Secretary-General.
The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Yaounde organised educational outreach events at 3 schools in Yaounde, Cameroon, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace (Friday, 21 September 2007).
UNIC’s National Information Officer (NIO), Anne Nsang, carried the UNSG messages of Peace to the pupils of the following schools:
To celebrate the International Day of Peace, the United Nations Department
of Public Information (UN DPI) office in Azerbaijan, with the financial
contribution of the Office of the Embassy of Switzerland and organizational
support of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan jointly
conducted two events on 21 and 22 September, 2007:
The Opening Ceremony of the exhibition 1000 Women for Peace,
and a Roundtable entitled Peace for you, for me, for everyone.
UNIC Prague, supported by a commercial publishing house and an academic
think tank, organized a thematic debate and presentation of a new peace and security
related publication ("World Centres of Tension," Kartografie Praha 2007.)
The debate focused on the world security hot-spots, current character of conflicts, role of the UN peacekeeping and other international organizations (NATO, EU, AU) as well as role of the media in conflict prevention and resolution. The issues of Kosovo and Darfur as well as MDGs and climate change were discussed among others.
The debate was covered live by CT24, a news channel of the national TV.
The event was one among others by which UNIC Prague celebrates its 60th anniversary (1947 - 2007).
The debate was moderated by UNIC OiC, the panelists included:
The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Czech Army, a former UN MILOBS, author of the
"World Centres of Tension" publication, a Czech TV journalist and the chief
of the Centre of Security Policy, Charles University Prague.
UNIC Bujumbura, in association with the UN communications Group-Burundi,
the Ministry of National Solidarity, Human Rights and Gender,
the Ministry of Sports and Youth and representatives of civil society,
organized the commemoration of the International Peace Day 2007 under
the local theme, "Let's redouble our efforts to consolidate peace."
On 21 September 2007, a peace ride took place in Bujumbura city. One hundred
cyclists participated, including the Head of State, H.E. Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza,
and the Executive Representative for Burundi of the United Nation’s Secretary General,
Mr. Youssef Mahmoud. The official ceremony took place at Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium.
It included speeches by the ERSG for Burundi and the Head of State. An exhibit of
children’s drawings on this theme was inaugurated by the Head of State just before
the Peace ride started. UNIC Bujumbura also organized distribution of the SG's message
in Kirundi to all the participants.
UNIC Moscow observed the International Day of Peace on Friday, September 21, 2007.
A solemn ceremony took place, whereby a wreath was placed at the Monument to the soldiers of the anti-fascist coalition of the Second World War in Moscow. This was a joint initiative conceived by the UNIC Moscow and its long-standing civil society partner, the Network of Schools for Peace, supported by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator.
At 3 PM, some 250 members of the "Young Peacemakers" movement congregated at the memorial complex "Poklonnaya Gora." The group of invitees included the UN Resident Coordinator in Russia, a Deputy Department Director at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a senior official at the Moscow Government and veterans of UN peace-keeping operations. Also present were school principals and teachers, while schoolchildren representing "The Schools for Peace" made up the core audience.
Under the patronage of Mr. Traian Basescu,
the President of Romania, UNIC Bucharest and ORICUM
(a youth NGO), in collaboration with the Mayorship
of Bucharest, the National Sports Agency, the Romanian
Olympic Committee, the Romanian Gendarmerie,
the British Council and 25 sport federations,
organized commemoration of the International Day of Peace.
The event, sponsored by Gatorade and Oltchim,
took place on 23 and 24 September at Lia Manoliu
National Stadium in Bucharest.
On Thursday 21 September 2006, in commemoration of the International Day of Peace, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Yaounde organized educational outreach events at two schools, CIAS and the International Complex “La Gaiété”.
At La Gaiété school, the UNIC’s Library Assistant and Ms Celine Abomo Mbia,
representative of UNESCO held a Peace Talk with the students.
At noon, the representatives of UNIC, UNESCO and Ms. Justine Kontchou, Headmistress of the school ,
rang the peace bell. A minute of silence followed.
Afterwards, the students sang songs of peace in French and English.
To mark the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2006,
UNO Asmara organized an event, which was attended by the NGOs, diplomatic
core and UN staff. Represendatives of different religious communities, such as
Hindu, Jewish,
Muslim, and Christian prayed for peace at the ceremony.
The International Day of Peace was commemorated in Nairobi with a
press launch of the "KenGen and Tegla Loroupe Peace Race and Beauty Contest." About 20 journalists were present at the launch.
Ms. Tegla Louroupe, the UNICEF Goodwill ambassador and a multiple marathon winner, spoke of the peace process between these warring communities. She was born in this region.
The Deputy Managing Director of KenGen also spoke.
The 10-kilometer race took place on Saturday, 23 September in Northern Kenya.
The event brought together over 2000 participants
and well over 300 warriors from the Turkana, Pokot, Marakwet,
Samburu and Karamajong tribes of Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan.
On 21 September 2006 UNIS Vienna organized a commemoration of the International Day of Peace. Over 300 children from 70 Nations gather around the Peace Bell at the Vienna International Centre. UNIS Vienna Director and Secretary General of Austria's UNICEF Committee handed out certificates to children for participating in "Writing and Drawing for Peace".
To commemorate International Day of Peace, UNIC New Delhi, in collaboration with the Confederation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations of India, organized a Peace March by 750 students from 12 schools. The students marched around the historic Lodi Gardens, waving banners and shouting inspirational slogans on the theme of peace. The march was flagged off by eminent Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan and UNIC Director. The march culminated in the UN lawns, with the students presenting songs, dances and speeches on the theme of peace. Reciting poems on peace, renowned poet Ashok Chakradhar inspired the students to become messengers of peace.
To commemorate the International Day of Peace, the UNIC Islamabad, Pakistan and Fatima Jinnah Women University jointly organised a discussion to raise awareness of the importance of the Day and for its students to reflect on how to contribute to the peace of the worldon the university campus on 20 September 2006.
The panelists were Dr. Tanvir Ahmed Khan, former Foreign Secretary, Dr. Riffat Hussain, Executive Director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Paneerselvam Perembalam of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations who is the Chief Administrative Officer of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). Dr Nazir Hussain, Associate Professor, Department of Defense and Strategic Studies of Quaid-e-Azam University, acted as moderator.
On Wednesday, 21 September 2005, the United Nations Information Centre for the Caribbean Area (UNIC) in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago and the Women's Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) observed the International Day of Peace at the Central Bank Auditorium in Port-Of-Spain.
The commemoration, moderated by CAREC Information consultant Mr. Jones Madeira, witnessed the ringing of the Peace Bell by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at United Nations Headquarters alongside, in Trinidad and Tobago, the Minister of Energy and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Eric Williams and the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Dr. Inyang Ebong-Harstrup playing in concert on a ‘Peace (steel) Pan'.
UNIS Vienna in cooperation with the Austrian Network for Peace and Non-Violence organized a commemorative event on the occasion of International Day of Peace, 21 September 2005. As the highlight of the event, approximately 100 children of around 50 different nations from seven local and international schools in Vienna sang songs of peace with one voice.
The event was well attended by NGO representatives, diplomats, school representatives, including school principals, representatives of the City of Vienna and the staff of the Vienna-based UN organizations.
UNIC Bujumbura co-organized with United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB), the UNCT, the Government, the National Olympic Committee, National and International NGOs a one week campaign for Peace from 16 to 21 September 2005. The campaign included a March for peace. 300 persons participated in the march including the Minister of Sports and Culture and Bujumbura’s Mayor.
UNIC and its partners also co-organized a ceremony at the Congress Palace. The Deputy Secretary General Special Representative presented the Secretary General’s message, followed by the main speech of the day by Mrs. Françoise Ngendahayo, Minister of National Solidarity, Human Rights and Gender on behalf of the President of the Republic. The ceremonies included peace prayers offered by representatives of various religions, and peace songs and dances.
UNIC Beirut in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace (SCORP) of the Lebanese Medical Student's International Committee (LeMSIC) and the Ministry of Culture organized the International Day of Peace. The event took place under the patronage of Dr. Tarek Mitri, Lebanon's Minister of Culture in the UNESCO Palace on Wednesday 21 September 2005. The program included an exhibition by a number of NGOs concerned with human rights, democracy and peace movements. The celebration of the International Day of Peace in Lebanon ended with a concert by the National Orchestra of Nowherestan which was attended by Mr. Ahmad Fatfat (Lebanon's Minister of Sports and Youth), Mr. Geir Pedersen (Personal Representative of the Secretary General in Lebanon), The UNIC Beirut Director, the Lebanese media and a large youth audience.
On 21st of September 2005, the International Day of Peace, UNIC New Delhi and Lady Shri Ram College organized a special college assembly which was addressed by the Guest of Honor, UN Messenger of Peace Vijay Amritraj. UNIC New Delhi also organized a dance-dialogue entitled “Imagining Peace” at the India International Centre.
On 17th September 2005, UNIC Harare held a commemoration of the International Day of Peace. It included peace prayers offered by representatives of various religions, and peace songs and dances. The Guest of Honour was Mr. Aenaes Chigwedere who was represented by Mr. Matshaka, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture. The event was attended by over 500 people.
On 21 September 2005, UNIC Moscow observed the Day of Peace at the solemn ceremony at Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow. The event was a joint initiative conceived by the UNIC and its long-standing civil society partner, the Network of Schools of Peace. 200 activists of the "Young Peacemakers" movement took part in the event.
To commemorate the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2005, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Yaounde organised a Peace talk at the Cameroon International School and a one-hour special Radio Programme was broadcast live on the national radio, CRTV with the participation of youths.
On 21 September 2005, representatives of the Kenyan military, diplomats, members of civil society and Nairobi-area school children today joined United Nations staff members at the UN’s African headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi, to commemorate the International Day of Peace. The event focused on the contribution made by the people and Government of Kenya to peace in the region, and on their important role in the UN’s peacekeeping work across the globe.
Participants in the celebrations included Kenyan military officers, led by Major General Njuki Mwaniki, and numerous heads of UN agencies in Nairobi.
One of the highlights of the day's programme was when two of the schoolchildren, who had written messages of support to Kenyan peacekeepers, read samples of the mail to the assembled guests. They then presented the packages of mail to General Mwaniki for forwarding to the peacekeepers.
General Mwaniki, after delivering his prepared remarks, turned to the assembled children and emotionally thanked them on behalf of the Kenyan Armed Forces. He remarked that "..this was the first time anyone in Kenya had thanked soldiers for their sacrifices on behalf of peace...".
