The
National Federation of The Gambia UNESCO Clubs and Centres (NAFGUC) on
Wednesday commemorated International Day of Peace under the theme ‘Building
blocks for peace’ at Essau village, Lower Nuimi District.
The
proceedings of the day began with a match pass from Essau police check point to
Essau Lower Basic School.
Speaking
on the occasion, Maimuna Sidibeh, senior programme officer at the National
Commission for UNESCO, said conflicts continue to tear societies apart,
exposing millions of women and men to immense suffering, and poverty, too,
remains enduring, just as inequalities are deepening.
“Violent
extremism is on the rise – barbarous acts of terror strike at communities in
every region. The world is facing the most important refugee and displacement
crises of our time, with 65.3 million individuals forcibly displaced in 2015,”
she said.
Madam
Sidibeh also noted that humanity’s cultural heritage and diversity are under
attack as world heritage sites are destroyed to eradicate the message of
tolerance and dialogue that they embody. At the same time, the planet faces
rising pressures from the consequences of climate change.
According
to her, all of these weakens the foundations for peace and also highlights the
vital importance of global action, guided by the values and principles of the
United Nations.
She
affirmed that the defenses of peace must be built in the minds of women and men
through education, freedom of expression, intercultural dialogue, respect for
human rights and cultural diversity and scientific cooperation.
Keeping
the peace, Sidibeh said, means building it every day, in every society, with
every woman and man. It means living together, and working towards a better
common future for all.
Lamin
Ceesay, secretary general of NAFGUC, said the federation holds a strong belief
in the importance and strategic role of young people in preventing and
resolving conflicts, non-violently.
Alagie
Jarju of the National Youth Council said young people have to be the building
blocks for peace building, noting that peace does not mean the absence of war
only.
Pa
Modou Sarr, NAFGUC president, thanked UNESCO Dakar office for funding the day.