International Day of Peace statement by UN Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana

Distinguished Guests,

I would like to express my gratitude for the invitation to the celebration of the International Day of Peace. The theme of this year’s anniversary is “Cultivating a culture of peace,” which entails a profound reflection on the challenges we face to sustain a culture of peace in view of the current geo-political dynamics, expansion of the war technology, and increased social divisions. 

This year, we also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of the “Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace”. 

This milestone is a testament to our collective commitment to peace. As we know, peace is not only the absence of violent conflicts, but it is also a positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged, and conflicts are solved through mutual understanding and collaboration.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his remarks at the celebration of the International Day of Peace, stated that (I quote) "Peace is the ultimate prize for all humanity. As this International Day of Peace reminds us, the solutions are in our hands.  Cultivating a culture of Peace means replacing division, disempowerment, and despair with justice, equality and hope for all. It means focusing on preventing conflict, propelling the Sustainable Development Goals, and promoting human rights and tackling all forms of discrimination and hate."

As we reflect on the significance of this Day, it is essential to recognize that Peace must be nurtured and sustained through a collective commitment to dialogue, justice, and inclusivity. A culture of Peace demands active participation from every segment of society—government, civil society, religious leaders, youth, women, and the private sector.

Violent conflicts, frequently resulting from political deadlocks and grievances generating from social inequalities, undermine development and social cohesion. Thus, strengthening democratic institutions, promoting dialogue between different communities and groups of society, particularly youth and political parties, addressing the causes of economic and social inequalities are central ingredients of peace and prevention of violent conflict. 

In this regard, I commend the steps made by the government of Sierra Leone and main opposition party to resolve their differences through a process of dialogue that led to the signing of the Agreement for National Unity. 

The United Nation has provided direct support to the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement for National Unit, co-chairing the Tripartite Committee and supporting the inter-party dialogue process, while also monitoring implementation of the other provisions of the Agreement.

We are currently joining efforts with our development partners to support the Government in the implementation of the Tripartite Committee’s recommendations as well as to the inter-party dialogue effort, in partnership with the Political Parties Regulation Commission. 

The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework has been recently signed by the government, which is framing our development cooperation with the government and people of Sierra Leone for the next six years, supporting institutional strengthening, economic development, and governance. 

Socio-economic inclusion is a key element of peace. Women, youth, and people with disabilities, among others, should be given the space and opportunities to be included in the political and socio-economic processes for their voces to be heard. 

The United Nations remains steadfast to support Sierra Leone's efforts to strengthen Peace and development. Our collaboration with the government, civil society, and all stakeholders is grounded in the belief that sustainable development and Peace are inextricably linked. In this regard, we stand ready to support national initiatives that promote dialogue, conflict prevention, and social cohesion.

Thank you.