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A Day of Global Ceasefire marked in Fizuli
In 1981, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the International Day of Peace and invited all its Member States, non governmental organizations, and individuals to observe the Day reflecting the United Nations' commitment to keeping peace among peoples and nations. Since then the International Day of Peace was observed each year on the third Tuesday of September and coincided with the opening of the regular session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. However in its resolution 55/282, of 7 September 2001, the General Assembly decided that, beginning in 2002, the International Day of Peace should be observed on 21 September each year. This year, on 19 September 2004, the UN Office in Azerbaijan and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) regional project "Women for Conflict Prevention and Peace Building in the Southern Caucasus", jointly with members of the National Network of IDP women and Coalition 1325 gathered in Horadiz settlement of Fizuli district, located close to the frontline, to commemorate the International Day of Peace. The event entitled "Let's return to re-stoke the hearth" brought together 70 women both from Horadiz settlement and other parts of the country to participate in the event which took place in Horadiz Culture House on the United Nations street. Head of executive power of Fizuli district Mr. Nabi Mukhtarov opened the event by welcoming and briefing the participants on the recent re-construction works in Fizuli after the return of a part of IDPs to the district.
UNIFEM National Project Coordinator, Ms. Gulshan Pashayeva made a brief introduction to the history of the International Day of Peace observance and activities in the framework of Coalition 1325, established with the aim to promote women's active participation in the peace processes and to support the principles or the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. According to Ms. Pashayeva, important substantial work has been done in the way of reaching the main goal of Coalition, but a lot of work is still to be done. Member of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Republic Ms. Asmet Mamedova and Deputy Chairperson of the State Committee for Women's Issues, Ms. Mominat Omarova made brief speeches on the important role of peace and stability for the social and economic development of Azerbaijan. During the event representatives of Coalition 1325 and members of the National Network of IDP Women discussed the role of Azerbaijani women (particularly IDP women) in prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, stressing the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution according to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. For more information contact:
Ms Gulshan Pashayeva
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"A day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day" - this is how the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan called the International Day of Peace in this year's message on the Day's occasion. 
Ms. Zahra Guliyeva, Chairperson of the State Committee for Women's Issues, expressed her gratitude to the United Nations, and UNIFEM in particular, for organization of the International Peace Day event. Culture of peace should be fostered first within family, interpersonal and community relationships, and only after that projected to the international relations, she emphasized.
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© United Nations Azerbaijan 2004 |
