Top UN envoy in Afghanistan calls for total cessation of violence to mark Peace Day

The top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan today appealed for a total cessation of violence across the country on 21 September, marked around the world as International Day of Peace, and for days of tranquillity ahead of that date to allow for vital humanitarian initiatives to be carried out.

“In Afghanistan, we all know about conflict and insecurity,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative Tom Koenigs told a news briefing in Kabul, the capital, where he was joined by representatives of almost every UN agency working in the country. “But what we have seen in these past weeks is that Afghanistan wants peace.”

He called on all groups, all individuals, and institutions to support the peace effort in a country that has suffered nearly 30 years of war, and in the past 18 months has seen a rise in a Taliban-led insurgency. Although 21 September is marked worldwide, this year in Afghanistan, a special effort has been underway for nearly two months to promote support for an actual day of peace and non-violence.

Adding their support to the appeal, several agencies stressed the need for a week of tranquility to precede the actual Peace Day, to allow for essential humanitarian activities, including polio vaccination drives and food deliveries to people in insecure areas of the country.

Scores of groups have pledged support and action for the campaign, including business, civil society groups, media organizations, government ministries and regional authorities. The campaign has grown to encompass every region of the country, and numerous activities are planned over the remaining 10 days.

These include special prayers in mosques around Afghanistan, and cultural events such as poetry readings, painting and writing competitions. Radio and television stations are programming round-table discussions and phone-ins to discuss peace.

There are also arms handover ceremonies, immunization campaigns, town and district clean ups, and a ceremony to hand over a large tract of land that has been cleared of mines. The major wireless networks have committed over the next 10 days to sending text messages of peace to all Afghan mobile phone subscribers.

“The response has been vast and it continues to grow,” Mr. Koenigs said. “Help us make Peace in Afghanistan real.”