“Peace
and security are essential foundations for social progress and sustainable
development. That is why, three decades ago, the United Nations affirmed the
right of peoples to peace.” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Since 2001, the UN has recognized 21 September as International
Day of Peace, an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire. To mark the 30th
anniversary of the General Assembly Declaration on the Right of Peoples to
Peace, the theme of this year’s International Day of Peace is the “Right of Peoples to Peace”.

The United Nations invites all nations and people to honour
a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to mark the occasion through
education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

In a message to Soroptimists and supporters, International
President Ann Garvie has urged Soroptimists to promote peace and tolerance in
their communities, while influencing decision-makers worldwide to end conflict and
violence. Read President Ann’s message.

 

Building a culture of
Peace – friendship, tolerance and understanding

“Peace is a long road
that we must travel together – step by step, beginning today.” Ban Ki-moon

Peace is not just the absence of war. This was one of the
key messages from the annual UN High
Level Forum on the Culture of Peace, attended by Angelina Akhvlediani, one
of SI’s UN Representatives in New York on 9^th September. A culture
of peace requires a commitment to peace-building, mediation, conflict
prevention and resolution. It must involve education for non-violence,
tolerance, acceptance, mutual respect, intercultural and interfaith dialogue
and reconciliation. More
about building a culture of peace.

As individuals, we can feel powerless to resolve the
terrible conflicts that destroy the lives of millions of people around the
world – in Gaza, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Ukraine to name
a few. But we all have a role in helping to promote a culture of peace.

Soroptimists around the world are involved in promoting
friendship, tolerance and understanding across cultures, languages and borders.

Projects for Peace

Soroptimist
International Moreton North Inc. (Australia) combines their annual Club
Planning Day with International Peace Day by organising a Virtual Peace Day Tour to another country, linking up with
Soroptimist Sisters there via Skype and inviting our Friendship Links and
Friends to join us on Facebook.  This
year, the destination is Tibet via Cambodia. The club also make Origami Peace
Doves throughout the year to support children’s orphanages and schools around
the world. This  is a continuation of our
partnership with the International Peace Day Alliance and a new partnership
with Armed with Hearts, where SIMNI’s
youngest member Sarah Cowley is on the Board. 
In 2013 Sarah had the opportunity to meet Esther Ekwo from SI Apapa
Nigeria who was a recipient of her peace
dove project back in 2011. Esther received a Grant of Friendship from the
Region of South Queensland, which enabled her to visit Australia and meet
Esther.

Educate
for peace – Italy – the Soroptimist Club of Lamezia Terme launched their “Education for Peace” initiative with schools in the
city on Peace Day in 2013, concluding with a time of sharing and reflection in
October.

Italy
– The Soroptimist clubs of Bergamo and Bergamo Treviglio Plain organized an information stand in a local square, aiming
to help children and adults understand the need to develop skills such as
negotiation, listening, building positive relationships and reducing conflict. The
idea of peace shattered was symbolically represented by dozens of balloons with
the word “peace”.

Walk
for peace – Nigeria – Tension
and acrimony in Delta State led to violent incidents and other problems; for
2013’s International Day of Peace, SI
Asaba undertook a 2km walk for peace through busy areas of their city, accompanied
by a band, highlighting the importance of peaceful co-existence, stopping to
speak and hand out peace quotes and pamphlets at strategic spots.

Language to build
bridges – Austria – SI Murau run a programme of free German tuition for
immigrant women and girls to help them overcome practical difficulties and integrate
into the local community, while developing mutual understanding of one another’s
cultures. Childcare is offered during the classes.

Children’s Peace
March – Trinidad and Tobago – 7 years ago, SI San Fernando planted a Peace
Pole in the heart of their city, reminding passers-by “May Peace Prevail on
Earth”. For Peace Day in 2013, children from two participating primary schools
made peace flags and marched to the Peace Pole Site, where they participated in
an interactive ceremony with the mayor and his staff. Students talked about
what peace meant to them, a Soroptimist shared a story about peace and everyone
sang a peace song. The club aimed that everyone who participated would become
more aware of little ways we can all actively practice peace in our daily
lives.

Essay competition – India – SI Bangalore ran an essay competition to
help understand what young people think about world peace and what they feel
they can do to help achieve it. Twenty nine girls from BBMP Government school participated
in the World Peace day programme, with some students preferring to give
extempore speeches