UNITED NATIONS MESSENGERS OF PEACE JOIN IN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE OBSERVANCE

UNITED NATIONS MESSENGERS OF PEACE JOIN IN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE OBSERVANCE

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will ring the Peace Bell at 10 a.m., 19 September at United Nations Headquarters to herald the twenty-second observance of the International Day of Peace.  At his side will be five of the United Nations Messengers of Peace:  Muhammad Ali, Anna Cataldi, Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall and Elie Wiesel.

The General Assembly established the International Day of Peace in 1981.  Until two years ago, its observance coincided with the opening day of the General Assembly session.  However, in 2001, the General Assembly called for it to be observed on 21 September each year, as a day of non-violence and ceasefire.

This year, the International Day of Peace will be marked by numerous activities and events around the world, as well as a message from Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to be delivered when he rings the Peace Bell.  Many individuals, governments and organizations, both private and public, are joining the call of the General Assembly to raise awareness of the Day and spread the message of peace.

Inside the United Nations Headquarters, immediately following the Peace Bell ceremony, the student observance, held annually since 1997, will take place with youth of more than 30 nationalities participating.  Mrs. Nane Annan will preside over a programme of videoconference exchanges between students in the United States, youth at peacekeeping missions around the world, former child soldiers and with United Nations Messengers of Peace.  The event will be webcast on the www.un.org Web site.

United Nations peace missions around the world will conduct cultural and sports events in the name of peace.  In Somalia the United Nations is calling for a suspension of all fighting; in Lebanon, the United Nations will give eco-tourism awards to rural and urban planners; in Guatemala, the United Nations will inaugurate a children’s park; in Burundi, local leaders will meet in round tables on how to reach lasting peace; in Bouganville weapons will be destroyed during a special ceremony.

Another highlight of the 2003 observance is the production of two public service announcements (PSAs) featuring Messengers of Peace Muhammad Ali and Luciano Pavarotti.  The production was a joint effort by the United Nations and The History Channel, with the New York advertising agency DCODE.  The PSAs will be broadcast on The History Channel and The Biography Channel worldwide.  In the United States, the PSAs will be distributed to all broadcast and cable networks by the Advertising Council, Inc., with a grant from the United Nations Foundation.

United Nations staff members will also participate in the observance by joining a vigil from 7:15 a.m. Saturday through Sunday, 21 September in the Meditation Room located in the Visitors Lobby of the Secretariat Building.  The public has also been invited to join in the vigil observance from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on both days.

An International Day of Peace Web site has been established at www.un.org/events/peaceday.

For further information on Day of Peace activities, contact the Peace and Security Section, Department of Public Information: Susan Manuel, tel.: 1 212 963-1262, e-mail: manuels@un.org; or Sharon McPherson, tel.: 1 917 367-2068, e-mail: mcpherson1@un.org.  For information on the United Nations Messengers of Peace, contact Yvonne Acosta, tel.: 1 212 963-7214, e-mail: acostay@un.org.

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