Establishment of a Network of Foundations and Research Institutions for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace in Africa
Foundations and Research Institutions working in the area of Peace will meet on Friday, the 20th of September in the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Actors are meeting to promote a Culture of Peace in Africa through coordinating their work, expanding their visibility among national and international institutions and implementing the Action Plan for a Culture of Peace, adopted in Angola last March, through common initiatives.
The Meeting is organized by UNESCO, Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for the research of peace and the African Union Commission and will be opened by Mr Jean-Noël Loucou, Deputy Secretary General of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation; Mr Federico Mayor Zaragoza, President of « Cultura de Paz » Foundation; Mr Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and Ms Lalla Aïcha Ben Barka, Assistant Director-General for Africa, UNESCO.
During the Pan African Forum “Sources and resources for a Culture of Peace”, held in Angola earlier in March this year, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova described peace as “one of our greatest challenges”.
This Forum resulted in the adoption of an Action Plan for a Culture of Peace in Africa and the launch of a continental and sustainable Movement for a culture of peace and to the kickstarting of awareness and mobilization campaigns at national level under the motto “Make peace happen”.
One of the key conclusions of the Forum of Luanda was the launch of a multi-stakeholders’ partnership for the implementation of this Action Plan through a series of coordinated actions at national, sub-regional and regional level.
In this context, UNESCO has favourably welcomed the proposal made by the Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research to create a network of Foundations and Institutions whose overall aim is to unite research organizations working on the promotion of a culture of peace in Africa.
The meeting brings together participants from various countries and institutions, including representatives of UNESCO, the African Union Commission and representatives of peace foundations and institutes from over 20 African countries, as well as from Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The meeting will end with the official signature of the Communiqué for the Establishment of the Network of Foundations and Research Institutions for the promotion of a culture of peace in Africa.
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