To celebrate the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2008, the network of 63 UN Information Centres (UNICs), as well as a number of UN peacekeeping operations and other UN offices, organized varied activities including sports competitions, peace rallies, photo exhibits, panel discussions, and radio and TV programmes on and around the Day.

Please click on the link below to read about how UNICs, UN peacekeeping operations and other UN offices celebrated International Day of Peace 2008.

International_Day_of_Peace_2008_summary_rev1.pdf (603.62 kb)

United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Dhaka organized a slogan competition to celebrate International Day of Peace in Bangladesh.  Contestants submitted their slogans via email to UNIC Dhaka and a 15 member panel.  The winning slogan, "Peace we can make, World we can change", was used in a text message sent to millions throughout Bangladesh with the help of three mobile phone companies - Grameen Phone, Warid and Ektal. In addition, 24 youth and student clubs sent the message to their friends and relatives.

Other International Peace Day activities included a discussion programme held on Bangladesh Radio and a rally at Dhaka University. The radio programme was anchored by the Officer-in-Charge of UNIC Dhaka and included the Director-General of Bangla Academy. The rally was organized in partnership with the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies of Dhaka University and UNIC Dhaka read the Secretary-General's message for International Day of Peace.

United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Port of Spain  culminated its two month long "White Ribbon Campaign", which began in 2007, to engage civil society in participating in a global call for ceasefire in regions of hostility, with the distribution of two thousand white ribbons from 17 to 22 September.

The ribbons were made by Cancer Society of Trinidad and Tobago and was funded in part by the UN Association of Trinidad and Tobago. Local chapters of Soroptomists, The University of the West Indies Computing Society, Bhrama Kumaris and College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago participated by including the distribution ribbons, the UN Secretary General's message for the International Day of Peace, in various activities marking this observance around the country. One of the activities attended by the UNIC and other UN System Staff in Trinidad and Tobago was an early morning ceremony at the Brian Lara Promenade in Port of Spain on 21 September. The event included performances by various individuals, the symbolic ringing of a peace bell at mid-day and the release of pigeons.

UNIC Bujumbura, in cooperation with the UN Integrated Bureau for Burundi (BINUB), the Government of Burundi and human rights civil society organizations, organized two activities to celebrate International Day of Peace with the theme "Let’s respect human rights for a sustainable peace in Burundi".

On 20 September, a soccer match took place between the FNL Palipehutu, a former rebel group that recently signed a peace agreement with the Government of Burundi, and the National Army football team.  The match took place at Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium with approximately 3,000 people in attendance.  The match ended with a tie score, 1-1. Each team received a peace cup from the Minister of National Solidarity and Human Rights and the Chief of FNL Palipehutu.

Official ceremonies including a march for peace and a soccer match between newly repatriated Burundians and the Makamba province’s football team took place on 21 September in Makamba province. Approximately 5,000 people attended the official ceremonies and listened to speeches given by the Minister of National Solidarity and Human Rights and the Executive Representative of the Secretary General in Burundi. Approximately 3,000 people, including students of primary and secondary schools, took part in the march carrying banners displaying peace slogans.