Partnership for peace, dignity for all
The International Day of Peace is observed around the world each year on 21 September. The United Nations has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. The theme of this year's commemoration is ‘"Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All" which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace. As we celebrate International Day of Peace today, members of the Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS), under the initiative of The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), have joined international peacebuilding organizations from throughout the world to issue a statement to United Nations Member States bringing attention to peace concerns. The letter calls for Member States to:
- Fully embrace the commitments to peace in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
- Balance national efforts with a focus on external drivers of peace, justice and inclusion
- Mainstream prevention, including in development, humanitarian action, and crisis response
- Protect and support civil society in fostering sustainable peace
Partnership is an essential element to sustaining peace in fragile and conflict-affected states. Civil society, including youth and women's groups, should be at the forefront of building peace at all levels and in all places. Nevertheless, civil society inclusion continues to be under threats around the world, with onerous restrictions imposed on the ability of civil society groups to freely conduct their mandates. The CSPPS strongly values democracy, open civic space, respect for human rights, and equality as core elements to maintaining peace in any country – inclusivity matters in the forging of a consolidated and sustainable peace. Read full Peace Day Statement here.
Poem recited by the REPAOC [CSPPS Member Organization in Senegal] during the International Day of Peace at the United Nations in Dakar.
