Celebrations of International Day of Peace 2003


  8 September 2003: Celebration of International Day of Peace at UNESCO HQ organized in collaboration with the NGO/UNESCO Liaison Committee 

2.30 p.m. in Room II - Round Table on "Culture of Peace and the Foundations of Reconciliation" - programme

5 p.m. Award Ceremony of the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education 2003 - more

  Calendar of worldwide culture of peace events in September 2003

  United Nations web site dedicated to International Day of Peace 2003

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 Celebration of international Day of Peace in UNESCO's Member states

Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, a number of different events will take place in the framework of the International Day of Peace: projects include a public discussion on the dialogue between religions and a conference with participants from different religious communities. Furthermore, NGO representatives will gather for a seminar on the rights of children, meetings will be held in institutions for juvenile delinquents, and a specific colloquium seeks to assist in the realisation of the “Island of Solidarity” project. Several cultural events will be dedicated to the issue of “peace”; they range from drama activities and public concerts to special art and literary exhibitions.

Belgium

FLEMISH PEACE WEEK (Vlaamse Vredesweek) 

The annual Flemish "Peace Week" (26 September to 5 October 2003) will be organised by several Flemish peace organisations. This year, the key theme is the issue of conflict prevention. The events during that week coincide with a political campaign demanding the establishment of a Belgian Centre for Conflict Prevention. 

As part of the week’s proceedings, a conference on "The Language of Peace" will be held in Antwerp on 4 October. The conference is aimed at anyone interested in issues of peace education. Furthermore, an exhibition on "Art – Language of Peace" will open in Hasselt on 26 September. In addition to these two events, individual campaigning activities will take place on the streets of Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Hasselt and Leuven. The Peace Week organisers also supply info material and educational tools for teachers, helping them to organise "language of peace" lessons in schools. For more information please visit http://www.vredesweek.be

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Bosnia and Herzegovina National Commission for UNESCO marks the International Day of Peace by means of a formal meeting, held at the National Theatre in Sarajevo and focusing on the Culture of Peace. About 500 guests will attend the event, whose programme will include speeches by eminent representatives of the country’s public and cultural life, as well as choir and orchestra performances.

Brazil

In partnership with Palas Athena Association, the UNESCO Office in Brazil will organize several lectures of Mr. Ravindra Varma, Director of the Gandhi Peace Foundation. On the 16th of September, he will give a lecture entitled “Liberty and Interdependence – Gandhian Reflections” at the 27th Forum of the São Paulo’s Committee for the International Decade of a Culture of Peace – a UNESCO Program. Following this day, from the 18th to the 21st of September, during the International Seminar Gandhi – the Power and Strength of Non-Violence, Mr. Varma and other important militants of the culture of peace movement will be focusing on the Theory of Power on a Gandhian perspective, which is today the most significant contribution to the history of non-violence. On the 24th of September, Mr. Varma will give a Main Lecture at the National Congress in Brasilia, with the presence of several government authorities and culture of peace activists. more

Egypt

Through the Egyptian Associated Schools, children of primary and secondary schools have been invited to write essays and submit drawings on the theme “How to make peace prevail among peoples?”. A ceremony, in presence of the media, will be held at the Egyptian National Commission’s premises in the afternoon of September 21, during which prizes, consisting in a commemorative medal, a certificate and a Culture of Peace kit in Arabic, will be awarded to the best essays and drawings.For more information please contact : UNESCO Cairo Office.

India

The Indian National Commission for UNESCO has informed us that schools from all over India have celebrated the International Day of Peace: for example, 150 students of the Guru Harkrishan Public School in Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, took part in a “peace march” aimed at sensitising people in the surrounding neighbourhood for peace issues. Another institution, the Lawrence School in Lovedale, commemorated the International Day by conducting a painting workshop for its students. Several schools, including the D.M. School, R.I.E. Bhubaneswar, organised special presentations on the role of the United Nations and the work of its specialised agencies. Activities of the Birla Public School included a project exhibition on the theme of peace, as well as Community Development and tree plantation projects.

Turkey

The Scouting and Guiding Federation of Turkey, representing more than 20,000 Turkish scouts, will celebrate the International Day of Peace through a variety of different activities. In addition to preparations for an international “Jamboree on the Air” and a “Jamboree on the Internet” (featuring the peace game “treasure planet”), there will be several exhibitions, one of which is dedicated to “Peace and Scouting”. Other projects include a poster campaign, a signature collection for UNESCO’s Manifesto 2000 as well as awareness-raising measures on HIV/AIDS, human rights and the environment. All of this will be complemented by more specific projects at local and regional levels, for instance exhibitions in Turkish schools throughout the year. for more information