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Organization: International Day of Peace in Uganda
The following information may be cited or quoted as long as the source is accurately mentioned and the words are not taken out of context.
Posted: Mar. 21 2010,04:52 If you wrote this report, you will find a button here that you may click
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Postal address of organization/institution

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E-mail address of organization/institution

info@cultureofpeace.org

Website address of organization/institution

http://cultureofpeace.org

Telephone of organization/institution

1-413-329-7517

PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity

EDUCATION FOR PEACE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RIGHTS
WOMEN'S EQUALITY
DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION
UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY
FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity


PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?

See website

ACTIONS: What activities have been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010 report.

2009:

Kampala: 90 helped produce radio and TV programs featuring selected Peace activists speaking on the need for harmony among diverse backgrounds and Ramadhan. A dinner took place including people of different faiths.

2007:

War Child and partner organization Conflict Resolution by Youth organized a week long "peace camp" in Lira for a hundred youngsters, with the International Day of Peace as the highlight of the week. They held a peace march and discussed various peace related topics. In addition to DJ Super's performance, various tribes performed and watched each other's performances. They all took a minute of silence to commemorate the victims of the 21-year conflict.

2005:

Conflict Resolution by Youth (CRY) Uganda carried out an African cross-cultural as well as interfaith Peace concert, orchestrated by young people. The activity was part of the 11 day regional Youth Peace Camp Project in the Katakwi district in Eastern Uganda. This area is recovering from the trauma of war and still faces periodic armed rustling from armed ethnic groups. The theme of the Peace Camp this year was "Youth are a Resource" and the objective was to allow delegates to discuss experiences and alternative perspectives to the key issues affecting the Peace processes in Eastern Uganda. Another objective was to solicit support for youth in strengthening their awareness of solving problems through non-violent means. Approximately 120 delegates were selected by a regional panel based on their commitment and ability to effect change on their return home.

Network for Peace Building Initiative (NPI) celebrated International Day of Peace in Northern Uganda under the theme "Peace begins with me". It was intended to raise awareness among various communities about the devastating effects brought to the area by the 19 year long war between the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and governmental forces. This conflict has displaced over 1.6 million Ugandans who now live in camps, and has resulted in extensive crimes against humanity. Increased HIV/AIDS, rising poverty levels and complications in the treatment of malaria and tuberculosis are some effects of the war. The event organized by NPI included Peace marches, a ceremony for a new Peace monument, speeches, music and an essay/art competition.

United Religions Initiative (URI): Northern Uganda – The Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative conducted candle light interfaith prayers on the eve of September 21. Many people from the region came for bull roasting and shared some good moments, which is unusual in Northern Uganda. For several hours, Peace was evident on many people’s faces, thus making the war which has existed for more than 20 years seem like history. The following day there was an interfaith Peace walk concluded by prayers at the bomb grounds.

The Universal Ministries CC, Stewardship Ministries CC and Affinet CC merged their activities. Celebrations took place under the theme of "Empowering the orphaned child – a key to national development”" Uganda has over 2 million orphans mostly due to HIV and the war. Religious leaders and government officials in the sub-region were invited, as well as the Member of Parliament for the area. Later orphans exhibited their arts and crafts, including tailoring, carpentry etc. The URI contact person for Stewardship Ministries CC said that Peace cannot be enjoyed when orphans have no clear future ahead
of them.

Youth Interfaith Mission and Interfaith Youth Partnership CCs came together under the umbrella of URI and decided to conduct a youth work camp for northern Uganda refugees, who had been resettled in the Mukono district (southern Uganda). The youths collected used clothes, shoes, hand bags etc for these refugees and also offered manual labor, such as cleaning and food preparation.

Pamoja CC members are undertaking skills training courses in alternatives to violence at Makerere University. They want to utilize these skills together with the URI Interfaith Peacebuilding Guide to train other CC members in Peacebuilding.

Interfaith prayers were held at Wampewo grounds in Kampala. Tension is building up in Uganda over the political situation, and many people fear what might happen in the 2006 elections. The last time Uganda had a similar political situation was in the late 70s to early 80s, when there was a lot of chaos and loss of lives. Religious leaders therefore prayed for Peace in this transitional period and for a harmonious co-existence among
Christians and Moslems.

PROGRESS: Has your organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of action and in your constituency during the second half of the Decade?

On a global level, reported events for the International Day of Peace continue to grow year after year (see the website listed above):

In the 2005 Report, 155 Peace Day events in 47 countries are presented.

The 2007 records show that:
* We had 623 commitments across the world
* 70 countries
* 225 cities (outside of the USA)
* 42 US states
* An estimate of nearly 500,000 participants
* An average of 500 people per event

2009 annual report listed 700+ events

OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?

not reported

PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?

The International Day of Peace is an annual event.

GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??

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Organization: International Day of Peace in Uganda

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