The World Veterans Federation will organize a global “Veterans Walk for Peace” event on 21 September 2008 as part of its annual activities to observe the International Day of Peace. The aim of the event is to promote the International Day of Peace worldwide.
The event which is supported by the United Nations will take place at major cities in various parts of the world. It will commence in sequence through different time zones from the East towards the West - starting from the Oceania going westward through countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas
The participants of this event will be made up of the veteran community and
other supporters of peace worldwide. More than one million participants are
expected to take part.
Generally, the programme for the event will be in three phases. It may however vary from place to place to suit local conditions, rules, customs, traditions and protocol.
Phase 1. The participants will meet at a designated Rallying Point.
Phase 2. They will walk in procession from the Rallying Point to an Assembly
Area. The distance to be covered is entirely at the discretion of the
organizers. It could be a symbolic walk of only a few hundred meters.
Phase 3. A brief ceremony will be held at the Assembly Area as follows:
- A Message of Peace from the UN Secretary General is read.
- A one minute of silence is observed at 1200 hours local time.
- Local dignitaries deliver their messages.
| Message from the United Nations Secretary-General |
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This year, the International Day of Peace takes on special
meaning.
This is the year we also mark the sixtieth anniversary of the
adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We know
that human rights are essential to peace. Yet too many people
around the world still have their rights violated -- especially
during and after armed conflict. That is why we must ensure that
the rights in the Declaration are a living reality -- that they
are known, understood and enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. It is
often those who most need their human rights protected, who also
need to be informed that the Declaration exists -- and that it
exists for them.
At the same time, we face a development emergency. This year, we
pass the midpoint in the race to reach the Millennium
Development Goals -- the common vision agreed by leaders of all
countries for building a better world in the 21st century.
Reaching these goals is also essential to peace. Yet many
countries in Africa are not on track to reach a single one of
the goals by the deadline of 2015. That is why, just after the
International Day of Peace, Governments, civil society and
business will meet at the United Nations to forge a broad
coalition and try to bridge the gap.
There is so much to unite around on this International Day of
Peace. To mobilize people around the world, the UN is launching
a text messaging campaign. My message reads: "On 21 September,
the International Day of Peace, I call on world leaders and
peoples around the world to join forces against conflict,
poverty and hunger, and for all human rights for all."
Together, let us send a powerful signal for peace that will be
read, heard and felt around the world.
Ban Ki-moon
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List Of Participants Veterans Walk For Peace
| Walk for Peace 2008 Photo Gallery |
Argentina
Cote d'Ivoire
Cyprus
Finland
Hungary
Indonesia
Israel
Italy
Malaysia
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Singapore
Sweden
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