Friday, 18 August 2006
Remembering 19 August 2003
Commemoration
Saturday marks the third anniversary of the attack on Baghdad's Canal Hotel that tragically claimed
the lives of 22 colleagues and friends. Hundreds more were injured.
At the Memorial Service held on 19 September 2003, the Secretary-General
stated "If people need an example
of our UN family at its best and its brightest, at its most committed and most courageous, they have only
to look at the men and women who perished in the Canal Hotel."
On Friday, 18 August , the Secretary-General will issue a statement and a minute of silence in
honour of the victims will be observed at UN offices around the world, including all UN Information
Centres.
Staff at all duty stations are encouraged to attend the commemorations. The schedule will be as
follows (all times are local):
- Addis Ababa: 11 a.m.
- All UN staff are invited to congregate in front of the UNCC building across from the flags at 10:50 a.m on Friday.
- Bangkok: 10:30 a.m.
- Geneva: 4:30 p.m.
- The Director-General will lay a wreath in front of the commemorative plaque in the Salle des Pas Perdus at 4:20 p.m.
- Nairobi: 10:30 a.m.
- New York: 10:30 a.m.
- A brief ceremony organized by the Staff Council Standing Committee on the Security and
Independence of the International Civil Service will take place at 10:15 a.m. in the General
Assembly public lobby. The Deputy Secretary-General will be speaking on behalf of the
Secretary-General. The observance will highlight the issue and importance of staff safety
and security and will also draw attention to the most recent incidents, which resulted in
tragic deaths of UN personnel. [
Watch the video] - Families, survivors, friends and colleagues associated with the attack of the Canal Hotel are calling for a gathering at the Church Centre, 2 p.m.
- A brief ceremony organized by the Staff Council Standing Committee on the Security and
Independence of the International Civil Service will take place at 10:15 a.m. in the General
Assembly public lobby. The Deputy Secretary-General will be speaking on behalf of the
Secretary-General. The observance will highlight the issue and importance of staff safety
and security and will also draw attention to the most recent incidents, which resulted in
tragic deaths of UN personnel. [
- Santiago: 12 p.m.
- Vienna: 11 a.m.
Information about the victims, as well as coverage of past observances, is available on the
UN Web site.
Staff may also wish to visit the Memorials to the Fallen in Geneva, New York and other duty stations.