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Asia: International Day of Peace

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A survey by CPNN

The following events in Asia were listed in “Google News” during the week of September 17-14 under “International day of peace.” We may suppose that there were articles in national languages that are not listed here. For events elsewhere in the world, click here.

map of asia idp
(Click on image to enlarge)

As seen on the map above, there were articles about 22 events in 11 Asian countries.

Here are excerpts from the articles.

China In Yinchuan, capital of northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, incumbent and former politicians from 33 countries, representatives from NGOs, think tanks and Chinese scholars celebrated the International Day of Peace. In his keynote speech, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao said that society is evolving into a global community of shared destiny where everyone is interdependent, and peaceful development and common prosperity represent the right path to take.

South Korea: Kyung Hee University kicked off the three-day Peace BAR Festival at its Seoul campus to celebrate the International Day of Peace. It has held this festival since 1982 to seek ways to ensure the future of human civilization amid a series of crises including climate change, terrorism, violence, war, human alienation and polarization. This year, the university invited three international academic think tanks, the Club of Rome, the Club of Budapest and the World Academy of Art and Science, to discuss our common future.

Cotabato City, Philippines: The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao led by Governor Mujiv Hataman joined Wednesday the celebration of the International Day of Peace. Hataman said he wished for an everlasting peace not only in the region, but elsewhere in Mindanao where armed conflicts have affected tens of thousands of innocent people.

Cebu, Philippines: The students and teachers of Our Lady of Joy Learning Center joined the celebration of International Day of Peace. The day before, the students prepared paper flowers with peace messages such as “Peace is like a tree that needs to grow.” “Worldwide peace begins in our homes.” “The one who is at peace with heaven brings balance to the world and lives in peace with men and women.” . . . “Blessed are the peace makers; they will be called children of God.”

Manila, Philippines: newsinfo.inquirer.net/818184/students-say-their-piece-for-peace”>
Coinciding with the celebration of the International Day of Peace, around 500 students from Miriam College, Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) and the University of the Philippines held a candlelight vigil in Quezon City, to protest the recent wave of drug-related killings sweeping the country. Jasmin Galace, executive director of Miriam College’s Center for Peace Education, told the Inquirer that they decided to hold the activity to “We will say our piece, we will speak up for peace,” Galace added. Aside from the activity on Wednesday, she also said that Miriam College and other schools were planning to send a statement against extrajudicial killings along with thousands of signatures to President Duterte.

Jakarta, Indonesia: Peace please!: Students of SMA 74 Jakarta high school raised banners in front of the school on Thursday to celebrate the UN sponsored International Day of Peace. The school, which has a history of student bullying and mass brawls, cooperated with the NGO Global Peace Foundation (GPF) to hold the event, advocating “building blocks for peace” as its main theme.

Yangon, Myanmar: Amid ongoing conflict and in the wake of the 21st-century Panglong Conference earlier this month, religious leaders joined members of civil society at a Yangon gathering to offer their prayers for peace. Attendees of the “pre-celebration” for the International Day of Peace – marked on September 21 – said the National League for Democracy’s Panglong initiative marked perhaps the best chance yet to bring peace to a war-weary land.

Fiji: MORE than 200 students from Lautoka who are part of the scouting program gathered at Saru MGM Primary School to take part in celebrations for International Day of Peace. Kailash Pillay of the Fiji Scouts Association said the reception for the event was unprecedented and there were plans to host a bigger event next year

New Zealand: The Royal Commonwealth Society launched The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2017 on the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. This year’s topics ask young people to explore a deeper understanding of the meaning of peace and the role of the Commonwealth as a network of and for democracy, human rights and peace.

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Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

Tahiti, French Polynesia: A cycle of 7 conference-workshops is being held in Fare Hau on the theme: “I act 1 minute for peace every day.” The first workshop, showing how “the coaching attitude” can be a first step to calm and pacify the world, coincides with the International Day of Peace.

Rawalpindi, Pakistan: Roots Garden schools and Roots IVY schools celebrated ‘World Peace Day’ to express their feelings, ideas and visions of a peaceful world by holding poster competition, poetry competition, essay competition, tableau competition and speech competition on the theme “Citizenship- How can we contribute to make our community better.”

Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan: The Al-Asar Development Organization hosted a ceremony in connection with observance of World Peace Day. A large number of civil society members, students, mediamen, lady health and social workers attended the ceremony.
Addressing the participants, lawmaker Najma Arshad pointed out that terrorism is the biggest threat to the world peace and the dream of having a peaceful society cannot come true without suppressing this menace. She also stressed to eliminate the racial and religious differences which, she termed, fuel terrorism and sectarianism.

Peshawar, Pakistan: Speakers at a function here on Thursday urged government and people to join hands for restoration of sustainable peace in the country to bring a positive change in life of common man. The event was organised by Peace Education and Development Foundation in connection with international peace day

Jamshoro, Pakistan: The International Day of Peace was celebrated at the U.S-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro. The program on “Water & Peace” followed the theme for this year’s Sustainable Development Goals as building blocks of peace.

Sikkim, India: Sikkim today observed the International Day of Peace through the theme of “Yoga for World Peace”in which enthusiastic school children participated. Multi-faith prayers were also organised. A state level function was organised at Paljor Stadium attended by Governor Shriniwas Patil as the Chief Guest and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as the Guest Of Honour.

Dimapur, India: The Peace Channel in collaboration with North East Institute of Social Science and Research commemorated the International Day of Peace. The programme began with a presentation on the history and background of the International Day of Peace by Akha Richa and Akumnaro Longchar, third semester students of NEISSR.

Urwa, India: When students of Canara High School Association observed World Peace Day on Wednesday, the martyrdom of 18 Indian Army soldiers at Uri was not lost on them. Paying homage to the martyred soldiers by reading out their names, the students and the CHS Association condemned the act of cowardice by the terrorists.

Pilani, Rajasthan, India: At the JMA Pilani school, the Principal Mrs Booma Natarajan read out the message of UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon “Let us all work together to help all human beings achieve dignity and equality; to build a greener planet; and to make sure no one is left behind” and urged the students to express their commitment to peace by becoming a champion of the Sustainable Development Goals. Students recited the Sanskrit shloka for peace and did a peace dove formation to prove that Peace is not just yet another 5 letter word but a “divine manifestation which we have to give birth to within ourselves.

Tamil Nadu, India: A procession by over 100 college students marked the International Day of Peace observance here on Wednesday. The students held placards with quotes of Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Teresa among others.

Doraha, India: Students of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, today took out a peace march here on the occasion of International Day of Peace. The volunteers condemned the attack on Indian soldiers at Uri Brigade Headquarters. They said revenge was not a solution. They sought a world which was not divided into groups and sections and the people had the freedom to live, love and move about. They also urged the Government to find an immediate solution to the Kashmir issue.

Mirpur, Kashmir: Like rest of the world, International Day of Peace was also observed in Azad Jammu Kashmir with a call for the establishment of peace across the globe especially in the conflict zones of South Asia including Jammu & Kashmir. A special ceremony was held here on Wednesday under the auspices of the local Chapter of Kashmir Watch International, the UK-based Kashmiri Human Rights outfit. The participants strongly condemned the increased human rights abuses by the Indian occupational forces in occupied Jammu & Kashmir. They also prayed for the establishment of permanent and durable peace in the conflict zones.

Teheran, Iran: The fourth term of “Art for Peace” Festival opened at Iranian Artist Forum on 15 September 2016. 140 artists are exhibiting their works in painting, photography, Sculpture, installation, video art, music and performance at various galleries of Iranian House of Artists. A ceremony was held for the commemoration of the International Day of Peace and the presentation of its medal on 20 September.

East Asia, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, South Asia,

Arab states: International Day of Peace

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A survey by CPNN

The following events were listed in “Google News” during the week of September 17-24 for the International day of peace. All but the last three were listed under the arabic script. Although the links below are in English, the articles are in arabic; hence, unless you can read arabic, you will need to use a translation service such as that of google as we have done. For events elsewhere in the world, click here.

map of arab states idp
(Click on image to enlarge)

As seen on the map above, there were articles about 14 events for the International Day of Peace in 11 Arab states.

Here are excerpts from the articles.

As you can see from the preceding map, there were
Bahrain: The Minister of Labour and Social Development Jamil Humaidan, the United Nations Information Centre for Arab Gulf countries and the Bahrain Assembly of the Baha’i held an event to celebrate the International Day of Peace. Participating in the celebration were a number of officials of the ministry, members of the House of Representatives and the Shura Council and the heads of councils and associations, as well as intellectuals, opinion leaders and clerics of different sects and relligions.

Lebanon: The Organization Media Association for Peace-MAP, in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre in Beirut and the Club “Masterpiece,” held a celebration to display artistic talents within the activities of the Beirut Festival. The celebration saw the participation of talented young people in singing, dancing and playing music, with messages calling for peace and hope through art.

Egypt: The Day of Peace was held on the Greek campus of the American University in Cairo. A workshop discussed the situation of refugees and foreign students in Egypt, in addition to taking the values ​​of accepting the other. Participants included a number of expatriate student leaders and members of the African community living in Egypt, as well as representatives from civil society the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and academic researchers and activists in the field of refugees.

Somalia: The Somali Youth Dialogue Centre organized a ceremony in the capital, Mogadishu, to commemorate the International Day of Peace. Participants included government officials and MPs and civic organizations involved in public affairs, as well as guests of honor, notables and elders of the community. The director of Youth Dialogue Center stressed that Somali youth should be give the opportunity to take the initiative for lasting peace and stability in the country.

Taiz, Yemen: A workshop was held on “Social effects of the conflict in Taiz and ways to promote coexistence and social peace.” The director of the sponsoring foundation, Mohamed Ahmed Haj Amin, called for peace-building in addition to humanitarian aid and support for education in the effort to restore security, peace and stability to the province of Taiz.

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Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

Aden, Yemen: The Al Mualla Foundation of Aden sponsored a meeting of women entitled “Open dialogue on peace.” The women concluded that the media should be activated to publish oncepts of peace in schools, universities, and other meetings and gatherings and to achieve a peace free from the partisan and sectarian strife of the ongoing war in Yemen. The meeting was attended by representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, young women and housewives.

Al Diwaniyah, Iraq: A festival of music, theater and fine arts was held in Diwaniyah. A member of the preparatory committee for the festival, Bara Nihad, said that ” a group of young activists and volunteers in the province, agreed to draw a picture of peace in Diwaniyah, a number of art events and exhibitions produced by youth.” She expressed her delight at the large and interactive audience and explained that the festival provides a vision of peace and the desire of citizens for civic life, freedom of opinion and expression unlike the fighting in the fronts to expel Daesh. Hence there was no involvement of any government or party in the events and the young organizers relied only on their own energy and talents.

Hillah, Iraq: Activists in the Babylon tourist Resort (6 km north of the city of Hillah) greeted the World Day of Peace in the spirit of spreading “love, peace and tolerance” among children and displaced people. They sent a message to the world that the Iraqis are keen to achieve “coexistence and national unity.”

Damascus, Syria: On the occasion of the World Day of Peace the chorus of St. Ephrem Syriac Patriarchate and the choir Ohieddith Adonia, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, gave a concert in Damascus. The concert included traditional and popular songs representing Syrian folklore of various kinds with the theme “Blessed are those who seek peace.”

United Arab Emirates: At the association’s headquarters in Dubai the Emirates Association for hostels celebrated the day of peace with the slogan «sleep peacefully» for all the world ‘s youth hostels. The celebration was organized under the patronage of the Minister of culture Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.

Palestine An event in Ramallah drew about a thousand Palestinian school and sent a message of peace to the countries of the world and to the members of the international Quartet. Balloons and white doves were released to express their hopes and dreams for a better future, “we want to live in peace.”

Gaza, Palestine In the old port of Gaza, dozens of Palestinian children from public and private schools manifested their appreciation for international solidarity and their hope that
the ship of women bound for Gaza would be able to break the Israeli blockade . They addressed a message of peace and hope to the entire world: “We, children are the light of Palestine. . . May justice prevail!”

Algeria: On the occasion of the international Day of peace, the wilaya of Mostaganem organized a ceremony for the Emir Abdelkader prize, given to three personalities who contributed to the promotion of peace: Federico Mayor from Spain, Raymond Chretien from Canada and Lakhdar Brahimi from Algeria.

South Sudan: The United Nations’ Funds, Programmes and Agencies, and the peacekeeping mission organized a number of events across the country, in collaboration with the National Platform for Peace and Reconciliation (NPPR) and other non-governmental organisations; alongside the launch of the 100 days of peace activism; a platform for all voices calling for peace, healing, and reconciliation to unite and send powerful messages to leaders and calling for a peaceful resolution to the current crisis.

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Mideast

Western Europe: International Day of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

A survey by CPNN

The following events were listed in “Google News” during the week of September 17-14 under the following key words:
“International day of peace”,
“Journée internationale de la paix,”
“Día Internacional de Paz,”
“Dia Internacional da Paz”
“Tag des Friedens”
“Friedenstags”
“Giornata Internazionale della Pace”

map of western europe idp
(Click on image to enlarge)

No doubt there were articles in other national languages that are not listed here. For events elsewhere in the world, click here.

As seen on the map above, there were articles about 29 events in 8 Western European countries found by this method.

Here are excerpts from the articles.

Assisi, Italy: “Thirst for Peace. “From 18 to 20 September 2016, more than 500 officials from nine major religions converged in Assisi, Italy, for an interreligious meeting organized under the auspices of the Community Santegidio. T hirty years after the historic initiative of John Paul II, Pope Francis celebrated the spirit of peace, with representatives of all other religions. An appeal signed by all participants at the end of the meeting, is reproduced here for the International Day of Peace.

Cervia, Italy: Cervia celebrated the International Day of Peace in cooperation with a Skype connection with the seat of Mayors for Peace in Hiroshima. The recall of the destruction of Hiroshima reverberated with the recent damage from the earthquake in Italy.

Banchette, Torino, Italy: The banner in the colors of Peace was launched into heaven, dragged up by a dozen white balloons, this morning by 200 elementary school students of the Walter Fillak school. The children engaged in the reading of poems and songs by Gianni Rodari, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, stressing the importance of brotherhood and peace.

Ventimiglia, Italy: The pupils of the Nervia Primary school arranged themselves to form the peace symbol. A simple gesture, a representation, a thought, but effective to commemorate the International Day of Peace.

Roma, Italy: On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, the Austrian Forum of Culture in Rome announced the finalists for the best picture of peace, in the 2016 edition of the Alfred Fried Photography Award which was initiated in 2013 in collaboration with UNESCO.

Bonn, Germany In Bonn therre were many events for peace day, beginning on Tuesday evening with a discussion in the Old Town Hall about how civilian groups can participate better in peace negotiations.

Duisburg, Germany: The Explorado museum of Duisburg is one of five children museums from five countries taking part in an international art project. The project, presented on World Peace Day, includes screens painted by more than 300 children.

Augsburg, Germany: Numerous, people gathered on the Moritzplatz to launch balloons for peace. The idea for the campaign comes from the Catholic German Women’s Federation. “We want to set an example for humanity and peace,” said diocesan Chairman Ulrike Stowasser. “We want to show our solidarity for refugees and their volunteer helpers.”

Bergstadt, Germany: People gathered to mark the International Day of Peace in the marketplace. “We are a small club with 15 members,” said Lisa Interschick from the local peace movement, but she was pleased with the many visitors who had gathered to pray. During the event texts were presented on non-violence and reconciliation, as prayers for peace. All visitors were given a rose.

Hammersmith, England: White balloons bearing messages of peace and happiness were released in Hammersmith to mark the International Day of Peace. The special event, which was attended by school children and Hammersmith and Fulham mayor Mercy Umeh, took place in Lyric Square. Dozens of school kids from Phoenix High school, St Paul’s primary, Normand Croft, Larmenier and Sacred Heart and Brackenbury primary supported the event’s peace pledge by signing tags and attaching them to the balloons.

Lisburn, Northern Ireland: Around 3,500 young people from schools and youth clubs across Northern Ireland are attending an event in Lisburn, to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Peace. The Amazing the Space programme fused musical performances from local young people with messages from international speakers with experience of living in conflict zones. A further 1,500 people will attend similar events at five satellite venues in Ballymena, Londonderry, Enniskillen, Bessbrook and Magherafelt.

(Article continued in the right column)

Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

Chigwell, England: Children at West Hatch High School in Chigwell took part in assemblies on issues such as the suffering caused by war, and pupils wrote messages on a ‘Tree of Peace’ in the school’s entrance hall to the victims of conflict. Organiser and school counsellor Sarah O’Donnell said: “Peace every day is the goal but focussing on a particular day is helpful for us all: peacefulness is important in our own lives, in our families, at work, in school and in our wider social lives.”

Isle of Wight, England: Doves were released in St Thomas’ Square by Sunrise Vectis Rotary, and a prayer was said by Rev Janet Hallam. Pauline Martin, who was one of those behind the gathering, said: “As the Rotary is an international group, it’s great to mark the day and raise awareness, especially considering events happening in today’s world.”

Oldham, UK: The Oldham Council organized a series of events to engage the public, schools, the community, faith groups and businesses in Oldham. The council became the first local authority in the UK to sign the Pledge to Peace in 2015; a commitment to put in place projects and actions promoting a culture of peace in the borough. Since then 13 local organisations have joined in signing the pledge and formed the Oldham Pledge to Peace Forum.

Portlaoise, Ireland: The Portlaoise Parish parish hosted an interfaith prayer service for members of the Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Baha’i, Bhuddist and Christian faiths.

Marseilles, France: On September 24, the International Day of Peace will resound on the Old Port of Marseilles when a collective of twenty associations state an emergency “march for peace”.

Gennevillers, France: Rainbow rainbow streamers, cardboard doves and optimism. On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, dozens of children from Gennevilliers leisure centers massed on the steps of City Hall. They raised the flag of peace and read messages of hope to send to the children of the sister cities of Gennevilliers.

Gonfreville-l’Orcher, Normandy, France: On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, the City of Gonfreville, member of the French Association of municipalities, departments and regions for Peace (AFCDRP) and the global network of Mayors for Peace ( “Mayors for Peace”) , invited the Hiroshima Junior Marimba Ensemble to give a concert for peace.

La Rochelle, France: The La Rochelle collective for diversity offers a day punctuated by meetings and workshops that will demonstrate that talent is stronger than discrimination! We are reminded that diversity and differences when they are accepted, respected and promoted are the force of our Republic and not a handicap.

Caen, France: The Movement for Peace and several associations including Hérouville-Esperanto an Pax Christi, organized 4 hours of discussions for peace in the Caen Memorial with the goal to promote a culture of peace.

Alpes du Sud, France: The Mouvement de la Paix organized for the International Day of Peace, videos, discussions, and an all-day concert.

Molenbeek, Belgium: As part of the International Day of peace, the Foyer Molenbeek produced a video in which children talk about what peace means to them.

Alcobendas, España: Padre Angel, president of Messengers of Peace,and the Mayor of Alcobendas were present at the Peace Day ceremony along with other officials and dignitaries. The Mayor renewed the commitment of Alcobendas “to work for peace and use all means at our disposal to ensure the best horizon for future generations” and ended his words with a quote from Benjamin Franklin: “We must all walk together towards peace or we’ll never find it.”

Tudela, Navarra, España: The Government of Navarra commemorated the International Day of Peace with an official ceremony to recognize the work of forensic anthropologist Paco Etxeberria and the memorialist associations for having developed “an important role in the exhumation of the victims of 1936.”

Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, España: Murals for peace: In the Institute for Secondary Education Fray Diego Tadeo of Ciudad Rodrigo two large panels were made available for all members of the educational community to put sentences or drawings related to peace.

Maspalomas, Canrias, España: This tourist resort celebrated International Day of Peace and its recent nomination as a Rotary Peace City. This award is the first to be granted to a Spanish city, and the fourth in Europe after Jersey (Great Britain), Cannes (France) and Zenna (Serbia).

Posadas, Córdoba, España: Teachers and students from different schools of Posadas made a peace walk. According to Estela Martinez, Director of Misiones Cuatro, “We decided to do this walk for kids to demonstrate the value of peace, a value for we have worked since childhood, for respect, for love, and for fellowship without violence or bullying,

Mealhada, Aveiro, Portugal: On the occasion of the International Peace Day children from the Children’s House and users of the Santa Casa da Misericordia distributed white flowers as a symbol of peace on the local streets and shops of the city of Aveiro.

Almería, Spain: The NGO Movement for Peace was launched today, coinciding with the International Day of Peace. It is a new campaign whose main objective is to commemorate this day remembering that thousands of people around the world pass this day without having the full right to peace. They are launching an initiative for microdonations for the maintenance of a mobile clinic for disabled Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

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Latin America: The International Day of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

A survey by CPNN

The following events were listed during the week of 17-24 September in “Google News” under the key phrases “Día Internacional de la Paz”, “Dia Internacional da Paz,” or “International Day of Peace. For events elsewhere in the world click here.

map of latin america
(Click on image to enlarge)

As seen on the map above, there were articles about 33 events in 14 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Here are excerpts from the articles.

Havana, Cuba: With the assistance of academics and representatives of social movements, workers and peasants from 12 countries will meet in Havana from 21 to 23 September, the first international seminar on Realities and Challenges of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.

Bogota, Colombia: More than 120 artists gathered in the central Plaza de Bolivar to invite Colombians to “weave peace” through a concert that combines music, dance and multimedia projections. Speakers included 17 actors on stage, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Colombia Opera Chorus and members of the Victus laboratory – made up of victims of armed conflict, a metaphor for the absurdity of war.

San Jose, Costa Rica: About 300 young people gathered in Independence Park and the Cartago Municipal Amphitheatre to celebrate the International Day of Peace with interactive and educational activities that culminated with the presentation of the results of the edition 2016 of the contest “Let’s sing for peace “.

Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico: During the ceremony commemorating the International Day of Peace, mayor Maria Luisa Gonzalez Achem invited the children and young people present to make peace a way of life, founded on the values ​​of respect and cordiality. The Mayor was accompanied by students of the primary school Felicitas Cordero Villela whom she invited to spread a message of peace among their peers and family, and to avoid actions such as bullying.

Caracas, Venezuela: State agencies conducted a conservatory in Nueva Esparta, aimed at young people of this island in order to promote peace and prevent violence in communities. The activity, part of the International Day of Peace, was held in the House of Culture Manuel Placido Maneiro Pampatar, located in the municipality Maneiro, where 50 young people participated.

Ushuaia, Argentina: The International Day of Peace was celebrated in Ushuaia Municipality with the undersecretary for Political Affairs and Community Relations, Mirta Oriz, who said that “peace is a journey, not a destination. It is directly related with our daily actions, which have to do with how we relate with the boss, with neighbors, with our dependents, with the family; and with what we do every day. ”

Santiago, Chile: The representatives of different religions and spiritual traditions, with active communities in Chile, gathered to pray on Wednesday 21 September, generating a space of fraternity and deep spirituality in the Hall of San Ignacio de Santiago. The slogan was “Peace is Love made Coexistence”. Representatives and religious leaders of Judaism, Buddhism, Mapuche, Islam, Sikhism, pentecostal, Baha’i Faith, Orthodox, mainline Protestant churches and Brahma Kumaris attended. The Catholic Church was represented by Mons. Jorge Concha y Rev. P. Jose Manuel Arenas.

Vicente Lopez, Argentina: Under the slogan “Build Peace Together in our community, country and planet “, the Civil Association Mil Milenios and the Bethlehem Community organized an event for the International Day of Peace. They called on all individuals and educational, civic and governmental institutions to share activities, workshops and reflections as a way of building a culture of peace.

Valenia, Carabobo, Venezuela: The Crime Prevention Division of Carabobo State developed cultural and recreational activities to commemorate the International Day of Peace.
Their event, which was took place in the municipality of San Joaquin, started with a walk from the Indiana neighborhood to the Plaza Bolivar of that city, where attendees enjoyed theatrical plays and other activities to promote peace.

Apatzingan, Michoacan, Mexico: In the commemorative framework of the International Day of Peace, the State Government and the City Hall of Apatzingan celebrated the day with various civic, recreational and cultural activities that were attended by municipal and state authorities as well as basic level, upper middle and upper level institutions of the municipality.

Moquegua, Peru: Students from the college Juan Scarsi Valdivia marched through the main streets of their district of Samegua. The family prosecutor Mirtha Diana Morales Portilla explained that such a mobilization seek to encourage a culture of peace in the students as well as the general population. Another similar march takes place in the town center of Chen Chen. Meanwhile in the province of Ilo, William Prescott college students went to the Provincial Municipality to deliver a letter of peace to the mayor, William Valdivia Davila.

Mexico City, Mexico: The collective, “CPAZ” composed of 15 civil associations, will perform two activities for the commemoration of the International Day of Peace. The will meet at Chapultepec Avenue where 15 associations will carry out different activities, with the objective to serve the needs of everyone.

​​Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic: Several institutions celebrated World Peace Day with various events. A joint effort of the Office of the First Lady, the Archbishop of Santiago, City Hall and Local Education, concentrated hundreds of school and public officials, in an event entitled “In peace we live better”. For his part, Mayor Abel Martinez, called on the people of Santiago to work for a culture of peace.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Provincial senator Sebastian Galmarini participated in the celebration of the International Day Peace which was organized by the civil association Mil Milenios de Paz and the Belem Community in the Quinta Trabucco of Vicente Lopez; The theme of the meeting which brought together educational, civic and government institutions was “Building Peace Together in our community, country and planet.” The president of Mil Milenios de Paz, Inés Palomeque, invited the legislator to sign the Peace Accord.

Sullana, Peru: More than 100 schools that take part in the programFiscales Escolares marched through the main streets of the city, sensitizing the population throuch a parade called “For the International day of Peace and National day to Combat Trafficking in Persons.”

Cozumel, Mexico : In order to celebrate the “International Day of Peace” the municipal government held a very emotional ceremony that honored the members of the Student council of the editions 2014, 2015, 2016. The youth representative Niza Teresita Vivas Chacón, who had been Municipal President for a Day in 2014, expressed their desire for world peace.

(Article continued in the right column)

(Click here for the original version of this article in Spanish)

Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)
Manizales, Colombia: The chief negotiator with the FARC, Humberto de la Calle Lombana, was one of the participants in Manizales in the “March for Peace”. The Secretary General of the mayor of Manizales, Jhon Robert Osorio, said that “this activity aims to bring together people who support peace in our country. Peace is a constitutional right of and today as citizens we are making that right tangible.”

Santiago del Estero, Argentina: Organized by the Circle Dance Group of Santiago del Estero, there will be a meeting to celebrate the International Day of peace. The circle dances have been part of this tribute for several years and since 2015 they have been part of the activities of the Peace Council of Argentina.

Tunja, Boyaca, Colombia: To commemorate the international day of peace, the biggest event will take place in San Pablo de Borbur where at least 300 young leaders from 14 to 28 years old will meet to share experiences during the First Meeting of Youth for Peace of Western Boyaca. They are young leaders from the municipalities of Chiquinquirá, Buenavista, Coper, La Victoria, San Miguel de Sema, Pauna, Quípama, Muzo, Briceño, Caldas, Maripí, Otanche, Tununguá, San Pablo de Borbur y Saboya. On Friday and Saturday, they participate in different academic, cultural and educational activities.

Viedma, Argentina: Paper cranes and 24 degree heat was the perfect way to enjoy the first day of spring with various artistic and cultural events in parallel for World Peace Day. Over a thousand paper cranes were displayed.

Cartagena, Colombia: For an activity, held in the framework of the celebration of the International Day of Peace, students read, listened to and wrote experiences related to peacebuilding. “Adults talk of ‘Yes or No’ because they are the ones who can vote in the plebiscite, but the children were not asked about this although it is they who will inherit a country at war or at peace,” said the rector Olga Acosta, who added that “what we say on this day is that children can also decide about peace.”

Maiquetía, Vargas, Venezuela: The people of Vargas raised their voices for peace and respect for human rights during a demonstration in Maiquetia, a populous parish of Vargas state, which marked the beginning of activities of the International Week of Peace, in response to the guidelines of the President of the Republic, Nicolas Maduro, to reject the intentions of those who, from the right, want to promote the culture of violence to destabilize the country.

Zacatepec, Mexico: The regional competition “Painting a World for the Right to peace “organized by the CDHEM was attended by about 200 middle school students in the southern region. It aimed to promote peace among young people, against the scenario of violence taking place in the country.

Catamarca, Argentina: On the International Day of Peace and with the presence of the governor Lucia Corpacci, the International Forum for Peace and Human Values, was launched. It is unprecedented because it is the first such forum in Argentina composed of government representatives and civil society. The forum’s objectives is to promote education, culture and research in different fields of knowledge and human activity; promote human values ​​and solidarity especially, in all manifestations of social life

Puebla, Mexico: As part of the commemoration of the Day International peace, along with a free concert at the Auditorium of the Reformation, the 2016 Conference for peace officially opened in Puebla, a series of events and activities that aim to promote the culture of peace . From September 21 to October 5 with a closing concert in the BUAP, the Days of Peace will be held in various parts of the city, with 20 free activities among which are concerts, conservatories and workshops.

Tijuana, Mexico: This year’s March for Peace will take place in this border city. According to the organizers, led by the collective Tijuana Propone, “the march was born from the initiative to promote unity and to add a symbol of peace for the city.” To participate, the organizers are urging people to wear white clothing as a symbol of peace and unity. This edition will be the fourth annual walk for peace, celebrating the International Day of Peace; previous editions have drawn more than five thousand participants.

Florianopolis, Brazil: Florianopolis wants to become the first capital of World Peace. The was revealed by Dulce Magalhães, President of the 10th World Peace Forum. And the title may be merited thanks to the 200 people who participated in a flash mob (immediate mobilization) in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral yesterday, the International Day of Peace. Moving to the sound of a Hindu mantra and the rhythm of samba, teachers and students of dance, physical education teachers, students of public and private networks and young peace activists from Spain, Italy and Egypt presented a show to call attention to the opening of the Forum.

São José dos Campos, Brazil: The event “I offer peace to you”, an exchange of ideas, ideals and inspiring actions that lead to inner peace, will take place in Spider Vicentina Park on September 25, in celebration of the International Day of peace. There will be space for children’s stories, children’s yoga and music. A therapists corner will provide free application of Reiki, massage and Pranic healing. Everyone can participate in the conferences and experiences, yoga, Chinese body practices, and collective picnic.

Teresina, Piauí, Brazil: In celebration of the International Day of peace, the Public Ministry of the State of Piauí promoted a conference on the culture of peace in the auditorium of the State College Zacharias de Goes – Liceu Piauiense. The initiative promotes the struggle against school problems such as discipline and bullying, among other issues.

San Martin [Caribbean]: As part of the International Day of Peace the UNESCO Elementary School Aline Hanson Sandy Ground “The Friendly School” is organizing its peace march on Wednesday. For 3 years now, the UNESCO school in Sandy Ground, celebrated the International Peace Day in the streets of the neighborhood, with a march which involved the educational community as a whole.

St Croix, Virgin Islands: Peace advocates filled the Evans Center at the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix campus, on Friday to celebrate World Peace Day with poetry, song and motivational speeches.

Haiti: The United Nations in Haiti commemorated the International Day of Peace with the launch of the CD “Vwa Ayiti Pou Lapé” (Voices of Haiti for Peace), result of 18 months of collaborative work between James Germain, Emeline Michel and Beethova Obas, renowned Haitian artists who have held workshops for over 200 young singers and musicians of sensitive areas from 10 cities. A total of ten songs reflecting the musical mosaic of Haiti and combining many influences of musical styles that this Caribbean countries make up this album; each of them recalls that the future of Haiti requires stability and a rejection of any form of violence.

Barbados: Hundreds of Barbadians took part in yesterday’s Walk For Peace in The City. Among the local charities, groups and organisations represented were: Lions Club Barbados, members of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Junior Chamber International (JCI) Barbados and the Barbados Defence Force.
BWU General Secretary, Toni Moore; Member of Parliament for St. Joseph, Dale Marshall; the Barbados Labour Party’s candidate for St. Philip West, John King; Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Hope Transplant International, Reverend Michael Steele, also took part in the Walk.

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Africa: International Day of Peace

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A survey by CPNN

The following events were listed in “Google News” during the week of September 17-14 under the key words “International day of peace” and “Journée internationale de la paix.” It is possible that there were articles in other local languages that are not listed here. For events elsewhere in the world, click here.

map of africa idp
(Click on image to enlarge)

As seen on the map above, there were articles about 16 events in 15 African countries.

Here are excerpts from the articles.

Burkina Faso: The Association of veterans, retired military, widows and orphans of war marked the event with a walk for peace. Who better than them can appreciate the value of peace?

Mali: The Malian Federation of Clubs , Centers and Associations of UNESCO, in collaboration with the GENOVICO program, commemorated the day with a panel discussion on the theme: “Culture of peace in schools and universities.”

Senegal: The world-renowned singer Youssou N’Dour sent a strong message to the world. “On 21 September 2016, I invite all nations and peoples to cease hostilities, and to eliminate causes of conflict.”

Madagascar: The ROTARY Club of Antananarivo Analamanga Ainga and the Regional Tourist Office marked the day by distributing pots of honey in the Garden of Antaninarenina. Traditionally, honey is a symbol of abundance and wholeness in the Malagasy society.

Togo: Togo- WANEP in collaboration with the Peace and Security Network for Women in ECOWAS held a round table to involve women in the peace process and development in Togo and elsewhere.

Casamance, Senegal: The Women’s platform for peace in Casamance, in the company of their sisters from Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone, organized a series of activities around the theme of “The sustainable development goals as components of peace”

(Article continued in the right column)

(Click here for the original version of this article in French)

Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

Rwanda, Burundi and DRC: Fifteen hundred young people from Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo met in Goma to discuss peace. They took part in workshops on peace as well as a charity concert.

Algeria: On the occasion of the international Day of peace, the wilaya of Mostaganem organized a ceremony for the Emir Abdelkader prize, given to three personalities who contributed to the promotion of peace: Federico Mayor from Spain, Raymond Chretien from Canada and Lakhdar Brahimi from Algeria.

Dungu, Haut-Uélé, DRC: Over eleven thousand young students from Dungu in Haut Uélé province were sensitized on the culture of peace, during a workshop organized by the Youth Forum for the development of Dungu.

Guinea: The Convention of non-state actors of Guinea ( CANEG) and the African Crisis Group (ACG), two organizations of the civil society, organized a forum on peacebuilding in Guinea.

Benin: The executive president of the Pan African Social Prospects Centre, Albert Tevoedjre, called on Africans to learn to live together with a view to establishing lasting peace on the continent.

Nigeria: In collaboration with Edizwine Bar, the Coalition of youth leaders of the Niger Delta organized a peace march with a concert featuring top talent and regional artists.

South Sudan: The United Nations’ Funds, Programmes and Agencies, and the peacekeeping mission organized a number of events across the country, in collaboration with the National Platform for Peace and Reconciliation (NPPR) and other non-governmental organisations; alongside the launch of the 100 days of peace activism; a platform for all voices calling for peace, healing, and reconciliation to unite and send powerful messages to leaders and calling for a peaceful resolution to the current crisis.

Liberia: Delivering the keynote address at the indoor ceremony of the International Day of Peace held at the City Hall of Monrovia, The Executive Director of the Peace Building Office, Edward Mulbah, said that while Liberia had made tremendous progress made over the years to address the root causes of the 14 years of civil war, it was important to know that there were still challenges.

Rwanda: According to the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, the day brings together several non-governmental organisations, international peace organisations, religious leaders and the local communities under the theme, “Building Blocks for Peace: The Role of the Youth in Promoting Sustainable Peace and Development.”.

South Africa: In partnership with UN Volunteers and ACCORD, students from Boston Media House and the Tshwane University of Technology interacted with peacekeepers in gaining a better understanding of the work of the UN in conflict resolution, peace and security.

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Mexico: Mancera opens the International Forum of ‘Mayors for Peace’

. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION .

An article Excelsior (Reprinted as a non-commercial use)

Prime minister, Miguel Angel Mancera, opened the International Forum of “Mayors for Peace” aimed at combating violence worldwide. The capital is a vice-president of the non-governmental organization “Mayors for Peace”, which involves 132 cities in 161 countries.

mayors
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

The event, organized by the Secretary of Social Development of the capital, called for the promotion of peace and eradication of violence in the world, through actions such as voluntary disarmament and social inclusion.

In that respect, the Minister said that his administration carries out various actions to promote peace through social programs such as “Por tu Familia Desarme Voluntario”, “El Médico en Tu Casa”, “10 X la Infancia” and the recent creation of “Hospital de las Emociones.”

He said a permanent task is to build more egalitarian cities, where conflicts over lack of inclusion are avoided: “how to prevent violence is by avoiding the causal conflicts and by developing a long-range program that involves the environment, access to water, food and education. Regarding the environment his government is working with the Climate Leadership Group (C40), and has joined the Food Policy Agreement of Milan to favor the creation of fair and sustainable food systems.

(Article continued in the right column)

(Click here for the original Spanish version of this article.)

Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

During this forum, which is held during the International Day of Peace, five working groups and the keynote address will be developed.

In addition there will be demonstration of the destruction of weapons collected by the program “For Your Family, Voluntary Disarmament” and the exchange of war toys for educational toys.

Roundtables during the first day of work will incude: “Practices of Local Governments for a Culture of Peace”; “Challenges of Local Governments faced with new threats at the Global Level” and “The Role of Local Governments for Peace Building in Latin America and the Caribbean”.

Speakers at the forum include the coordinator of the Global Network of Safer Cities UN Habitat; the mayor of Frogn, Norway, Thore Vestby; and the director and representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Mexico, Nuria Sanz. In addition, the director of Peace Boat, Kawasaki Akira; the Mayors for Peace coordinator in North America, Jackie Cabasso; the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Mexico, Mark Manly; and the representative of Granollers, Spain, Carme Barbany. Also participating are the mayors of Cartago, Costa Rica, Rolando Rodriguez; Managua, Nicaragua, Daisy Torres; the Alderman of San Jose Costa Rica, Fernando Jimenez and Professor at the National Pedagogical University Paolo Pagliai.

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Peace One Day 2015

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Excerpts from the report of Peace One Day

The Peace One Day 2015 Report found that in 2015, around 10% of the world population was aware of peace day and its activities. An estimated 1.5 billion people were exposed to Peace Day messages through activities ranging from dances to media campaigns

peaceoneday
A frame from the Peace One Day Video

2015 media campaigns:
Close to 130 million individuals were made aware of Peace Day through collaborative social media campaigns – the UN’s #ForgiveforPeace and USIP’s #PeaceDayChallenge initiatives had 2 billion impressions.

2015 faith groups:
Religious bodies and leaders, including the Catholic Church, the World Council of Churches, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the World Jewish Congress, HH Dalai Lama, Sri Karunamayi, and United Sikhs made over 300 million people aware.

2015 government & UN:
6 million people were made aware through government & UN activities, including the African Union’s Make Peace Happen campaign, and programmes across different UN agencies.

2015 corporate activities:
Corporate activities made close to 170 million aware. Burger King’s McWhopper Peace proposal to McDonald’s generated close to 9 billion impressions and was the single highest contributor towards generating awareness of Peace Day in 2015. Other majorcampaigns included Google’s homepage feature, and Coca-Cola’s Peace Day Anthem ONE.

Iconic monuments across the world were turned into art installations, including the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Austria, the Pyramids in Egypt, the Olympic Stadium in China, and Museu Oscar Niemeyer in Brazil.

In partnership with Zumba Fitness Headquarters in Miami, the #Dance4Peace campaign produced over 600 videos across 67 countries

Question for this article
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One day, one million strong choir on International Day of Peace

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An article from Independent Catholic News

Choirs and singers across the whole world got together to send a message of peace and unity on International Day of Peace. A million people were involved in One Day One Choir, a global choral initiative started in 2014 by singer Jane Hanson to mobilise the power of singing to unite people globally.

choir
A frame from the video of One Day One Choir

A flash mob in Trafalgar Square, London, led by choir leaders Jeremy Haneman and Tom Morley, brought together singers for an impromptu performance of songs about peace.

Among the singers was 3FF’s intercultural choir the Mixed Up Chorus, which has been involved in One Day One Choir since its founding. Eli Tamir, Mixed Up Chorus member and coordinator, said: “Music is a universal language that spans cultures and can be a powerful force for understanding. Singing on Peace Day is our way of showing that there is always more that unites us than divides us. If we can sing together, we can live well together.”

In the rest of the UK, singing started in the morning and continued throughout the day in a huge range of venues and settings – from community halls to Canary Wharf, from playgrounds to prisons, faith centres, concert halls, offices and open spaces. Bradford, Coventry, Truro and Lincoln cathedrals and York Minster dedicated their evensongs to One Day One Choir, and choirs in Cornwall, Leeds, Manchester took part. Groups, schools and colleges from 40+ countries, including Iraq, Pakistan and Iran, joined in.

Jane Hanson, founder of the project – who was at the Trafalgar Square event – created the initiative with the vision of mobilising the ‘biggest choir in the world’, using the power of singing together, for unity and peace by 2018 – the 100th anniversary year of the commemoration of WW1.

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Africa: CEDEAO: Women are called on to establish a durable peace

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article by Tata Sane for Le Soleil

Women have always been the fundamental actors in the search for peace. This was reiterated yesterday in the meeting organized by the Working Group, “Women, Peace and Security in West Africa”, in partnership with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (Unowas). The activity is held in preparation for the International Day of Peace, edition 2016. It is, according to the representative of Senegal on the working group “Women, Peace and Security in West Africa,” a favorable opportunity to reflection and exchange on the mechanisms of action and intervention of women and youth to consolidate peace and sustainable security in the Sahel which has been strongly shaken recently by the threats of extremists.

cedeao
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Diago Ndiaye believes that facing the terrorist threats that spare no nation, women must play their role in order to build a lasting peace. In his message issued on the occasion of this day, the Secretary-General of the United Nations stated that “peace can not be reduced to a simple truce. Peace means building on a global scale, a society in which people live free of poverty and everyone benefits from prosperity.” Therefore, sustainable development is essential for the establishment of a stable peace. Respect for human rights is also a prerequisite. “The lack of resources is often the cause of conflicts. Therefore, we must rely on the sustainable development program for 2030 to prevent conflicts by ensuring that no one is left behind,” added the Secretary-General.

(Article continued in the right column)

(Click here for the original French version of this article.)

Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

A high-level panel on the role and position of women and youth in the processes and peace and security programs in Senegal was scrutinized. Considering the theme “Women’s Leadership, peace, security, conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding: What role for women? “Dr. Christiane Agboton Johnson recalled that the 17 sustainable development goals that have been chosen for this year all contribute to the building of peace.

The involvement of women and youth

Speaking of women’s role, Ms. Agboton remarks that all women have a role to play at different levels. However, she wondered how this can be done so that women become a force for change. “Today, after all is said and done, has this potential been realized? Women represent 50% of the population, but, nevertheless, conflicts persist. This is the meaning of my question about how they can become a force for change, “she said. The gender adviser to the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (Unowas) recalled Resolution 2250 of the United Nations on youth, peace and security.

Agathe Telou believes that this resolution comes at a time when all players require the involvement of young people in search of peace worldwide. “This resolution recognizes the efforts that young people provide to help establish peace and security in the ECOWAS space,” she advised. Mrs. Agathe Telou addressed the sub-theme “Youth, Peace and Security: Resolution 2250 of the UN Security Council.”

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African Union: Call to ‘silence the guns’ on #InternationalDayofPeace

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An article from Independent Online – South Africa

Johannesburg – The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Nkosozana Dlamini-Zuma, has called for the “silencing of the guns” in Africa as the world commemorates International Day of Peace. “Today, Africa joins the rest of the world in marking the International Day of Peace or – Peace Day. Today, the African Union is engaging its Member States, and all its partners at political, institutional, private sector, civil society and community levels, to encourage all citizens to rally to the core of ‘silencing the guns’ campaign in Africa by 2020,” read a Wednesday press release by the AUC Peace and Security department.

African Union
caption: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Nkosozana Dlamini-Zuma, has called for the silencing of the guns in Africa as the world commemorates International Day of Peace. File picture: Salvatore Nolfi. Credit: EPA

This year’s theme for Peace Day is: “The Sustainable Development Goals; Building Blocks for Peace.”

Many AU Member States and their leaders are increasingly taking ownership of the SDGs, but more importantly of Agenda 2063: Africa’s blueprint for economic growth and social transformation.

“However, let us not forget that for as long as the gunfire continues to disrupt the tranquility of our blossoming societies and haunt the safety and security of our citizens, particularly of our women and girls, we will not achieve these noble aspirations for our people,” said Dlamini-Zuma.

(Article continued in the right column)

Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

It is with this in mind that, the African Union declared 2016 the, “Year of Human Rights with particular focus on the Rights of Women”.

“It is disheartening that, in 2016, I continue to receive reports of incidences of sexual violence meted out against women and girls as a weapon of war, most recently from South Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said the AUC chairperson.

“Today, I would like to reiterate the African Union’s zero tolerance of sexual and gender-based violence and exploitation. Sexual and gender-based violence has no place in our world: we must fight them relentlessly.

“As we commemorate Peace Day, the AU wishes to acknowledge efforts by Member States to minimise violence during elections,” she added.

“We continue to encourage political leaders and their supporters to use legal and peaceful means to address elections-related disputes. It is through these methods that we entrench and deepen our culture of democracy and peace on the continent.

“The AU Commission is also pleased with the establishment of the Mediation Support Unit, which will provide logistical and technical support in our mediation initiatives led by our Special Envoys.

“We will continue to enhance our initiatives in structural conflict prevention as well as increasing our post-conflict reconstruction and development programmes in countries such as South Sudan, Central African Republic and Somalia,” said Dlamini-Zuma.

The AU further commended the decision by Heads of State and Government to establish the Peace Fund, as well as to support 25 per cent of peace operation funding on the continent. This will provide predictable and sustainable funds to drive the goal of silencing the guns by 2020.

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