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21 september – International Day of Peace

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Press Release

September 18th , 2008

The International Coalition for the Decade calls for the celebration

of the International Day of Peace on September 21st

and the International Day of Non-Violence on October 2nd 2008

Two days to celebrate and observe peace: this was what the UN General Assembly wished for by adopting in 2001, the 21st of September as the “International Day of Peace” and in 2007 the 2nd of October as the “International Day of Non-Violence”. These days are international days of ceasefire and non-violence, occasions to strengthen the ideals of peace and to soothe tensions and causes of conflict. They are part of the dynamics of the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010)”.

This year, these International Days of the United Nations are particularly important because 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They should allow the large public to discover, in all the countries of the world, the various initiatives of peace and non-violence actors who endeavour courageously, and sometimes at the peril of their own lives, to reconcile the enemies of the past, to educate for peace and non-violence, to defend human rights, liberties, democracy, development and to promote social justice and the respect of the dignity of all humans.

21 septembre - Journée internationale de la paix
21 septembre – Journée internationale de la paix
The International Coalition for the Decade invites all those who wish so, to celebrate the International Days of Peace, September 21st and Non-Violence October 2nd by bearing the symbols of peace, such as the flag and the International Day of Peace sticker, by participating in events such as peace prayers, educational and awareness-raising events and symbolic acts or by starting local initiatives. The Coalition calls, in particular, upon all the cities of the world to get engaged in the celebration of these International Days. Various examples of actions can be consulted on the websites www.peaceoneday.org ; www.unesco.org.

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, the United Nations headquarters will organise on Friday, September 19th a ceremony. The Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, will ring the Peace Bell, deliver a message of peace and invite everyone worldwide to participate to the United Nation’s campaign of text message for peace. The text of the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s reads:  “On 21 September, the International Day of Peace, I call on world leaders and peoples around the world to join forces against conflict, poverty and hunger, and for human rights for all.” You can read text of Ban Ki-moon’s message on the website:

www.un.org/News/fr-press/docs/2008/SGSM11764.doc.htm

The Department of Public Information of the United Nations, in collaboration with NGOs, will convene a student conference on the theme “Peace and Human Rights”. For further information, you can visit the website of the United Nations : www.un.org

The member organisations of the International Coalition for the Decade also rally for these two days:
– To celebrate the 21st September, the Austrian Network for Peace and Non-violence (Österreichisches Netzwerk für Frieden und Gewaltfreiheit) will organise with “The Art Miles Mural Project” an art workshop for children in Vienna. The children will have the opportunity to express their thought about Peace.

In Salzburg, there will be a Peace March on Saturday, 20 September and on Sunday, 21 September and a ceremonial act in a school with “drumming for peace”, presentation of peace projects and artistic presentations. The ceremonial act will be inaugurated by the governor of Salzburg, Mat. Gabi Burgstaller. For further information, you can visit the website : www.friedensnetzwerk.at

– The association “Cercle de Paix”, a member of the Canadian Coalition for the Decade, will organise the “Pacifest” Day, for families. They will participate in workshops, yoga’s lesson and other activities, which will be free all the day. You can find the complete program on the website : www.cercledepaix.ca

– The Congolese platform for the Decade will organise conferences with debates on the themes ”Non-Violence and Reconciliation” in Brazzaville and in Pointe-Noire, 20-21st September. Members of NGO engaged for peace and the public are invited to participate in these events.

The local coalitions and the member associations of the French Coalition for the Decade organise various events in numerous regions of France to celebrate peace and non-violence. A conference “Non-Violence and Human Rights” will take place on October 2nd in Paris with Stéphane Hessel, Ambassador of France. You can find information about these activities on the website: www.decennie.org

– The World Council of Churches (WCC) supported by Pax Christi International calls upon its member Churches to organise prayers for peace, to demonstrate the power of the prayer, for the promotion of Peace and to prevent armed conflicts. In the United States, nearly 140 congregations and Christian groups are organising public prayer events on the International Day of Prayer for Peace, on 21st September, proposed in 2004 by the WCC. Another grouping of churches from different countries around the world has committed to observe the day with a 24-hour prayer chain. For further information, you can visit the websites : www.wcc-coe.org/dov et www.paxchristi.net

– In France, the Quaker’s Center of Congenies will be open these two days to sensitize the public, especially teachers and students. For further information, visit the website : www.quaker.org

Honorary Board of the International Coalition for the Decade, 18th September 2008 :

Nobel Peace Prize laureates

Dalaï Lama

Mairead Maguire

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel

Desmond Tutu

Elise Boulding

Anwarul K. Chowdhury

Hildegard Goss-Mayr

Samuel Kobia

Cardinal Renato Martino

Federico Mayor Zaragoza

La reine Nour de Jordanie

Andrea Riccardi

Marshall B. Rosenberg

Member Organisations of the International Coalition for the Decade, 18th September 2008:

National Coalitions

Comitato italiano per il Decennio (Italy) – Coordination béninoise pour la Décennie (Benin) – Coordination canadienne pour la Décennie (Canada), observing member – Coordination congolaise pour la Décennie (Democratic Republic of Congo), observing member – Coordination française pour la Décennie (France) – Coordination marocaine pour la Décennie internationale (Morocco) – Coordination togolaise pour la Décennie (Togo) – Kooperation für den Frieden (Germany), observing member – Österreichisches Netzwerk für Frieden und Gewaltfreiheit (Austria) – Plate-forme congolaise pour la Décennie (Congo Brazzaville) – Platform voor een Cultuur van Vrede en Geweldloosheid (Netherlands)

International Organisations

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) – Caritas Internationalis – Church and Peace – International Federation of the Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT) – Franciscans International – Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers) – Initiatives of Change International – International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) – Pax Christi International – Pax Romana / International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs – Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, observing member – Réseau Foi, Culture et Education – Central Africa – Servicio Paz y Justicia en América Latina (SERPAJ-AL), observing member – Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) – World Council of Churches (WCC), observing member

Flags (in French or in Italian) and stickers (in French) are available at the French Coalition for the Decade : www.decennie.org

Coordination internationale pour la Décennie internationale de la promotion d’une culture de la non-violence et de la paix au profit des enfants du monde (2001-2010) – International Coalition for the Decade for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010)

148 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis – F-75010 PARIS

Tel. : + 33 (1) 40 36 06 60 – Fax : + 33 (1) 40 36 06 80

E-mail : decade@decennie.orgsecretariat@nvpdecade.org

Website : www.nvpdecade.org

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