| Posted: Mar. 17 2005,10:47 |
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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 first half of the Decade? |
The
Universal Day of Hope Trust (UDOHT) is a charitable organization
established in London in 1990 to pursue truth, justice and world peace.
It is registered in Barbados under the charity act of Barbados,
registration No: 274. The idea for the organization emanated from an
international religious conference in London in December 1989, which
was called to discuss the issue of world population for the 21st
century. Following the December 1989 conference the UDOHT was
established and a programme launched to promote greater understanding,
race relations, truth, justice and world peace. In January 1990 a
proposal calling for October 12, to be designated a “Universal Day of
Hope” was disseminated to over 178 world leaders and various national
and international NGOs. The UDOHT is of the opinion that the solution
to world peace lies within the issues of complex race relations, truth
and justice resulting from the history since October 12, 1492.
Yes,
UDOHT has seen progress towards a culture of Peace. The United Nations
World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa in 2001 has
placed the spotlight of world attention on issues of truth, justice and
peace in a manner never before placed into such context. Being the
third and final conference of a 30 years process (1973-2003) for the
eradication of racism, this conference offered a great opportunity for
world peace.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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The
proposal of UDOHT in 1990 coincided with a proposal from the World
Council of Churches’ Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
committee to convene a World Day of Prayer on racism. The WCC has set
aside one week in October to pray for unity. UDOHT lauded the JPIC for
its initiative and recommended that the World Day of Prayer be October
12. Many Heads of State replied lauding the proposal, these includes
Caribbean Governments and powerful Commonwealth countries such as
Britain, Australia and Canada all indicating their willingness to give
critical support to a draft resolution if it was brought to the floor
of the United Nations.
The most important obstacles that have
prevented progress have been the reluctance and or unwillingness on the
part of Barbados’ Government to submit a draft resolution to the United
Nations and UDOHT's lack of financial resources.
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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The
action undertaken by UDOHT to promote a culture of peace during the
first half of the Decade was to present a draft resolution for a
Universal Day of Hope to the UN’s World Conference Against Racism in
Durban, in 2001 and to have the said draft resolution endorsed at the
first follow-up conference to the Durban conference - the African and
African Descendents World Conference Against Racism that was held in
Barbados in October 2002, out of which the Global African Congress
(GAC) – the first international Pan-African Civil Society Organization
was born.
The UDOHT continues to lobby Heads of Government of
CARICOM nation states, the Barbados Christian Council and the World
Council of Churches, appealing to them that in light of Britain’s
recent acknowledgement that Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
were crimes against humanity and of the British Government’s intention
to commemorate the bi-centenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in
2007 that a “Slavery Memorial Day” for October 12 might be the most
appropriate commemoration, which could begin the desired healing
process of both descendents of the enslaved and the enslavers, thereby
contributing significantly to the Decade for a Culture of Peace.
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ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
The
advice that UDOHT would like to give to the Secretary-General and the
General Assembly of the United Nations in their pursuit to promote a
culture of peace is that the truth of Africa’s contribution to world
history be told throughout the nations of the world, and that this
might best be achieve by proclaiming October 12, a “Universal Day of
Hope” for truth, justice and world peace in commemoration of the 200
anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 2007. We are of the
opinion that until the truth is told there will never be justice, and
without justice peace will continue to elude mankind. We would also
recommend that a “Marshall Plan” be implemented for the effected
regions to assist in repairing some of the damage done as a direct
result of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
UDOHT
has established links with the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem,
an organization of some 2,500 African Americans who have traced their
heritage to the ancient Israelites of the Bible and whose community at
Dimona in Israel is referred to as “The Village of Peace”. We have met
with and are seeking to partner with “Peace One Day”, the London based
organization that was successful in its lobby for an “International Day
for Peace” - 21st September. We have also communicated with “One World
Week” the London base organization that are lobbying countries to
promotes a week of activities during the month of October. We are also
seeking to establish links with the Interreligious International
Federation for World Peace (IIFWP) and the Interreligious International
Peace Council (IIPC). We have established links with the African
Development and Cultural Organization of Guyana that commemorates
October 12, as “Maffa Day”, as a means of healing for people of African
Descent in that country. We are in the process of establishing links
with the “African Methodist Episcopal Church” (AME) – the oldest
African centered Civil Society organization of the USA, and with the
“Institute for a New Humanity – from Chaos to Community” of the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference an African American
organization. We are seeking to establish links with St. Paul Community
Baptist Church in Brooklyn New York, a Church that commemorates the
“Maafa” with an annual programme. UDOHT is also seeking to establish
links with the Government of Ghana, West Africa who is seeking to
reunite African in the Diaspora with the Mother Land through a “Tower
of Return” Project of solidarity, scheduled for 2007.
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
UDHOT
plans for a culture of peace has three major components: (1) a draft
resolution to the UN; (2) sports for peace project and (3) global
festival of Hope for peace. The sports for peace component consist of a
bi-annual cricket limited over challenge trophy competition and a
bi-annual football for peace challenge trophy competition, to commence
in 2008-9. The global festival of Hope is proposed as a week-long
annual event to be held in different CARICOM countries each year,
bringing together different cultures in a “Village of Hope” setting,
whereby, for seven days cultural activists and top artistes will render
messages of hope and peace.
UDOHT will therefore continue to lobby
CARICOM Heads of Government to submit a draft resolution to the United
Nations that October 12 be designated a Universal Day of Hope for
truth, justice and world peace. We will redouble our efforts for the
cricketing and football nations and sponsors to consider our proposal.
We will also intensify the promotion for our proposal of a week of
activities during the month of October to be implemented before the
close of the UN’s Decade for a Culture of Peace in 2010.
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Postal address of organization
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P.O. Box 589 Cheapside, Bridgetown, Barbados
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E-mail address of organization
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udoht@hotmail.com
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Website address of organization
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not available
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Understanding, tolerance, solidarity
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Education for a culture of peace
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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The continent of Africa, including Israel
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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International
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