Serbia

Peace is our future! – a message from young people in South Serbia

Young people write their peace messages, International Day of Peace celebrations in Vranje (South Serbia), 21 September 2010.

“Where there is love, there is a future”, “Mang nekas em ov tut ka mangenc”, “You love someone and that someone will surely love you”, are just a couple of the messages of peace and love that young people sent during the International Day of Peace celebrations in Vranje and Bujanovac, clearly stating their unified message “Peace is our future!”.

On 21^st September 2010, the PBILD joint programme of United Nations agencies in southern Serbia, in co-operation with a local youth NGO ‘Generator’ and the Youth Offices of Vranje and Bujanovac, has organized street activities marking the International Day of Peace.

Over 100 young people, from all 13 municipalities and towns of Jablanicki and Pcinjski districts gathered to write messages of peace, express their hopes for the future by spraying graffiti on the drawing boards, dancing, and distributing balloons printed with the message "Peace = Future: The math is easy”.

“Seeing so many young people from ethnically diverse backgrounds celebrating together and joining together in messages for the future – peace – makes this celebration in South Serbia very special. I am truly pleased to be part of it”, says Chrissie Hirst, the PBILD programme manager.

PBILD also launched an art competition under the theme “Peace = Future: The math is easy”,  the global slogan for the 2010 International Day of Peace.

Adding to the enjoyment of the day, the special surprise for all people of Vranje and Bujanovac was a paraglider that flew over the towns and groups of activists, pulling the International Day of Peace banner “Peace = Future” for PBILD.

Alongside PBILD, youth volunteers of the NGO ‘Generator’ marked the International Day of Peace with a street photo exhibition of the women’s peace-building initiative, Follow the Women, in the Middle East. “Since 2003 there have been five bicycle rides for peace organised in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine” says Gordana Ristic of ‘Generator’. “The aim of this symbolic ride is to draw attention to the violation of human rights in Palestine, but primarily to appeal to all actors in the conflict to work for a peaceful resolution, without armed actions or casualties”, says Gordana.

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About the International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace (‘Peace Day’) provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to undertake practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.

In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared 21 September as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace. By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encourages people across the world to work in co-operation for this goal.

About PBILD

The Peacebuilding and Inclusive Local Development (PBILD) joint programme is a United Nations (UN) initiative in South Serbia working to build capacity in South Serbia for inclusive, peaceful and sustainable development. The four outcomes, or focus areas, of PBILD’s work are: increased community cohesion and human capital; improved and more equitable access to public services; increased economic development; and increased capacity for migration management.

Implemented by a team based in the UN office in Bujanovac, PBILD runs from 2009 until late 2012. The team is composed of staff from all six of PBILD’s implementing UN agency partners – UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, UN-HABITAT, IOM and ILO. The six UN agencies work together as ‘One UN’, and in co-operation with central government as well as all the municipalities of Jablanicki and Pcinjski districts.

PBILD is financed by five international donors: the Spanish Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund (MDG-F), the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), the Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC), the Kingdom of Norway and UNDP.  

Media contact:     

For more information, please contact Communications Assistant for the PBILD Programme, Mustafa Skenderi, on telephone number +381 (0) 63-390-298 or e-mail: pbildcommunications.rs@undp.org.