Traditional dancers at University of Khartoum peace celebration
UNMIS celebrated International Day
of Peace throughout Sudan with speeches,
traditional singing and dancing, sports
events, cultural displays and even
drawing contests on 21 and 22 September.
In a message read out at a University
of Khartoum event by Special Representative
of the Secretary-General Ashraf Qazi,
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged
all people to make human rights a
living reality, noting that this year
marked the 60th anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Also in Khartoum, a group of Sudanese
students were linked via video conference
from UNMIS Headquarters on 19 September
with students in New York, Afghanistan
and Liberia for a two-hour exchange
of views on peace and human rights.
In Juba, Vice-President of the Government
of Southern Sudan Dr. Riak Machar
said his government was demonstrating
its commitment to peace in the region
through ongoing disarmament demobilization
and reintegration of former combatants
as well as civilian disarmament.
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Reading a message from the Peace
Commission at the Juba celebration,
Beatrice Abe noted that the presence
of small arms in communities still
remained a huge threat to peace in
the region, urging all to join hands
in accelerating ongoing initiatives
to promote peace and reconciliation
among the Sudanese people.
At a ceremony in Abyei on its hospital
grounds, UNMIS Head of Office Chris
Johnson devoted the day also to those
who had died or lost everything in
the recent conflict there. Abyei women
planted eight mahogany trees in front
of the hospital, and children placed
a painting on the wall, which officially
became the “Abyei Peace Wall
of 2008”.
Sudanese students in peace video conference with students from Afghanistan
Similar ceremonies took place in
Malakal, Kadugli, Wau and Ed Damazin,
where community leaders and officials
expressed their commitment to peace
in their areas and throughout Sudan.
Crowds of local citizens, UN staff,
government officials, diplomats and
military commanders attended the events.
International Day of Peace is observed
worldwide each year on 21 September
through a global ceasefire –
a day dedicated to non-violence.
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