| Posted: Mar. 20 2010,19:02 |
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Postal address of organization/institution
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E-mail address of organization/institution
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info@cultureofpeace.org
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Website address of organization/institution
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http://cultureofpeace.org
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Telephone of organization/institution
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1-413-329-7517
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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
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TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity |
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PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?
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See website
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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.
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2009:
Despite continuing conflict and violence,
Afghan civil society produced one of the most
visible Peace Day mobilizations on the globe
during September and September 21. Amid a
Peace Day ceasefire agreed by the Taliban and
NATO forces, a Peace Day polio immunization
drive reached 1.2 million children across seven
provinces (UNAMA)! Last year, 1.6 million
children were vaccinated. The drive included
food delivery, and was a joint effort by health
authorities and NGOs including: WHO,
UNICEF and Red Cross.
UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
(UNAMA) tracked Peace Day activities on their
website. UNAMA and other civil society groups
launched a nation-wide “What are you doing
for Peace in Afghanistan?” campaign. Peace
Day TV spots were produced in both Dari and
Pashto and broadcast on Afghan television (can
be seen on YouTube). A special Peace Day
Magazine was produced.
Kabul: 1000 attended a concert for Peace at
the historical Babur Gardens, organized by
Afghan Civil Society Organization for Peace (a
coalition of 240 groups. White doves were
released into the sky at Kabul Headquarters of
UNAMA (9/22). Timor Hakimyar, director of
Afghan Civil Society Organisations Network for
Peace and the Foundation for Culture and Civil
Society said: "Peace is not only resolving
conflict but the process of living together and
having a good life. Peace is a right and it will
guarantee the dignity and honor of every
human being.”
Youth in Action Association (YIAA) organized a
Peace walk of young Afghans. Dozens joined
and carried messages for all parties involved in
the War in Afghanistan to put an end to the war
and resolve all issues through Peaceful
negotiations and dialogue. The event received
wide public support and was covered by a
number of Afghan media outlets. In an open
letter to the UN Secretary General, YIAA called
for an intervention by the United Nations to
bring all parties to the negotiation table (9/24).
Herat: Burqa-clad Afghan women attended a
Peace march. Internally displaced persons
(IDPs) in Maslakh camp attended a kite-flying
event. (Photo) Heart also hosted a race for the
handicapped.
Bamiyan: UN Education and Cultural agency
(UNESCO) celebrated Peace Day during
International Literacy Day where students
shared their experiences and prayed for Peace
in the country (9/16). A kite flying competition
was organized by the UN’s Refugee Agency
(UNHCR). 200 attended “Bamiyan Trek for
Peace”, including: students, orphans, UN
agencies and civil society members who walked
to the protected lakes of Shah Foladi using a
mine-free route. Also participating: Our
Journey to Smile, UN Environment Protection
Bamiyan, and UNAMA Bamiyan.
Other events- Badakshan: Peace discussion in
organized by AIHG, Kabul: Cricket Camp for
Peace, Maimana: painting in schools, Kunduz:
1000 people at a Peace Day gathering to
support development projects; a street which
witnessed 3 suicide bombings was renamed
“Peace Street”. Bamiyan: sport and painting
competitions, opening of the first Peace Park by
university students, seminars on the role of
women in Peace organized by the Department
of Women Affairs, a ceremony to free
Bamiyan’s heritage sites of landmines by the
Mine Action Coordination Centre of
Afghanistan and Afghanistan’s first gold medal
winner led a march of orphans.
2007:
ASCHIANA About 20 kids visited Radio and Television Afghanistan (RTA) and told the general director that they've had enough war and that their only wish is peace and security. Some of their messages were broadcast via KNN Afghanistan.
In the Central Highlands around 200 people took part in a clean-up campaign for peace in Band-e-Amir national park.
Cooperation Center for Afghanistan (CCA) organized a peace event for about 450 people in Kabul, Bamyan, Balkh and Harat.
Disbandment of Illegal Arms Groups Hundreds waited for former commanders who used to hold weapons and are now involved with the peace process to disarm and wait for the declaration of Saighan as a Peace District by the Governor of Bamyan, Mrs. Habiba Sorabi. The Saighan Police Headquarters was dressed up with peace posters and messges.
Estleqal High School, Kabul. Around 1,500 people gathered at one of Kabul's best known schools, the Estleqal High School, to watch and take part in performances, kite flying, songs and prayers for peace.
In the eastern city of Jalalabad at least 500 people joined a peace march, a day after thousands poured through the streets of the western city of Herat in what media reports described as one of the biggest rallies Afghanistan has ever seen.
Kabul Girls High School: 50 high school girls painted white, as a symbol of peace, over their gray school. The media arrived with their cameras and interviewed some of the girls' reactions.
Enthusiastic celebrations took place in Kandahar and Zabul provinces on Thursday, and doves and balloons were released into the air.
President Hamid Karzai released a Peace Day statement via national radio saying that Afghanistan was committed to doing everything in its power to make peace permanent for the nation and region.
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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
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OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?
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not reported
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PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?
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The International Day of Peace is an annual event.
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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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