Home  Forum/Events International Peace Day |
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| International Peace Day | ||||||
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| The International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981 and, twenty years later, it set September 21 as the fixed calendar date to annually observe the occasion as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence through education and public awareness. The Inter-American Peace Forum is held each year on September 21st or on the closest business day to that date. The OAS is planning a series of events during Peace Week -- September 21-25, 2009 -- in commemoration of this landmark initiative to promote universal values and social practices related to ideas of respect, brotherhood, and mutual understanding, which include a keynote conference by former guerrilla hostage and vice presidential candidate Clara Rojas of Colombia (Monday, September 21); the screening of the world renowned documentary “The Day After Peace”, about the efforts of filmmaker Jeremy Gilley to establish the first ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence (Wednesday, September 23); a display of historic photographs from the Columbus Memorial Library that document the prominent role of the OAS and its predecessor agencies in peace efforts from 1889 to the present; a selection of some of the most important works of the Permanent Collection of the Art Museum of the Americas with a thematic connection to peace (September 21-25); a concert featuring the youth symphony orchestra “Peace Notes” made up of underprivileged children from Cali, Colombia (Friday, September 25); and Chalk4Peace, a global chalk art project which turns pavements into a blank canvas where young artists of all ages can create messages and images that materialize their visions of peace (Saturday, September 26). |
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| See full “Peace Week 2009” program | ||||||
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| The Inter-American Peace Forum 2009 Historically, the Western Hemisphere has been characterized as a region of hope for millions of human beings. This is a Continent known for its constant struggle for liberty, justice, prosperity and peace. Despite the significant strides achieved in recent years in terms of economic growth, this region continues to be the most unequal, where the gap between rich and poor is increasingly larger. Peace is directly related to social and material progress; it is an essential ingredient in the process of development and poverty alleviation. Since its founding, the Organization of American States has supported Member States in overcoming their development and security challenges and it has done so by adapting its functions and responding to the dynamic and continuous needs of the Hemisphere’s community of nations. It has demonstrated flexibility while always maintaining its commitment to preserve peace and to respect the basic principles of international law. For this reason, the OAS must continue to work proactively to further understanding and collaboration between the peoples of this Hemisphere, as well as to promote a continued dialogue on the main challenges to hemispheric peace. Likewise the Organization must firmly advance in identifying long-term initiatives that can strengthen the inter-American brotherhood, ensure lasting regional peace, and stimulate regional cooperation. In order to consolidate the prominent role that the OAS has played and continues to play in conflict resolution, hemispheric peace and problem-solving initiatives, as well as in promoting a system of individual liberty and social justice based on respect for the essential rights of man, in compliance with the OAS founding Charter, the Secretariat for Political Affairs launched a new program titled the Inter-American Peace Forum in September 2008, which operates under the Peace Fund, in an effort to develop a series of activities aimed at promoting a culture of peace among the various sectors of the inter-American society. These are different types of programs, such as conferences and seminars on the subject of peace and conflict management; specialized reports and publications; the promotion of leadership, as well as other initiatives with a special emphasis on the peaceful resolution of conflicts and fostering a culture of respect, tolerance and harmony. Inter-American Peace Forum Monday, September 21, 2009 Hall of the Americas, OAS Washington, D.C.
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Clara Rojas
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