The activity, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre, created a platform for discussions on this year’s theme 'End Racism, Build Peace’.
The event was geared towards ending racism and discrimination for sustainable peace by engaging stakeholders in dialogue and promoting peace building initiatives; including peace pledges to further serve as a platform to spread messages of peace through music and poetry.
The event attracted key stakeholders including The Gambia Federation for the Disable and marginalised constituents of society. It was celebrated through a stakeholders' dialogue, panel discussion, social media campaigns and peace pledges made by various stakeholders as a sign of their commitment to promote peace and fight discrimination and racism.
Salama Njie, National Network Coordinator for WANEP, stated that the International Day of Peace offers a unique platform to focus on the plight of the youth; making their voices heard, seeking peace peacefully to nurture and sustaining democratic values for peaceful coexistence for their own communities and nation.
“WANEP believes that the relevance of the international day of peace lies in a holistic approach and sustainable efforts of all relevant stakeholders in achieving peace.”
Madam Njie expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Youths and Sports and the UN peacebuilding office through the resident coordinator for funding the activity.
The UN peace and development adviser, Patrick McCarthy, representing the UN resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana, indicated that every year, the International Day of Peace is observed across the world on September 21.
He explained that it's a day devoted to strengthening the idea of peace, adding that The Gambia has distinguished itself in the eyes of the world and further continues to demonstrate its uniqueness in West Africa by fully enhancing its beautiful diversity, religious beliefs, ethnicity and culture.
“This is evident through its unique transitional justice process which prioritised reconciliation over vengeance, choosing democracy over the undemocratic transfer of power and political leaders publicly committing to fight hate speech and the spread of fake news.”
Magistrate Muhammad Krubally, chairman of The Gambia Federation for the Disabled (GFD), buttressed that the International Day of Peace should be celebrated every day and that Gambians should live happily. He stated that people should continue to care and look after each other in order to strengthen their relationships as friends, families as well as Gambians.
