International Peace Day - Belfast City Hall (Youth4Peace)

In partnership with Belfast City Council, the event has been organised by Beyond Skin Youth4Peace steering group, Inter-Faith Forum and members of the Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies (CADA). The event is part of Community Relations & Cultural Awareness week supported by the Community Relations Council.

The event is free and welcomes everyone. It will be an informal indoor market format of arts, music, debate and peace of mind workshops. People will be invited to decorate ‘Peace Trees’ with Pledge for Peace messages.

The Day’s theme for 2016 is “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.” On September 25th 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years

"The people of the world have asked us to shine a light on a future of promise and opportunity. Member States have responded with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development... It is an agenda for people, to end poverty in all its forms. An agenda for the planet, our common home. An agenda for shared prosperity, peace and partnership." — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

Yasmin Kayali, Chief Public Relation Officer for Basmeh & Zeitooneh (Lebanon), will be attending the event also giving an opening address.

Yasmin Kayali commented:

  I am very grateful to Belfast City Council and people of the City for welcoming me on International Peace Day. I am delighted to get the opportunity to come to Belfast and speak about the need for peace in Syria. Events such as this, which bring together people from different faiths and cultures, are hugely important for building understanding. Belfast has known conflict but has now moved to peace. It is my wish – and the wish of millions of Syrian refugees across the Middle East and Europe – that the conflict in Syria will end and that we can begin to rebuild our lives. We are very grateful for the good wishes and support of people in Belfast and across Northern Ireland, particularly supporters of Trócaire who generously assist Syrian refugees in Lebanon and elsewhere.” Yasmin Kayali, Chief Public Relation Officer for Basmeh & Zeitooneh (Lebanon)

Belfast Lord Mayor, Alderman Brian Kingston, said: “Peace Day is both a day of celebration and reflection:  celebration of the many steps we have all taken towards peace, and reflection on how we all can contribute not only on this international day but in our everyday lives. “

Belfast Lord Mayor, Alderman Brian Kingston, said: “Peace Day is both a day of celebration and reflection:  celebration of the many steps we have all taken towards peace, and reflection on how we all can contribute not only on this international day but in our everyday lives

The event will also be promoting the #Youth4Peace global campaign. In December 2015 the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2250, the first ever thematic resolution on Youth, Peace and Security. This historic document is very important for all young peacebuilders worldwide because it brings recognition and legitimacy for youth's efforts in building peace.

Beyond Skin are the all-Ireland representatives and members of United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY), a network of youth Peacebuilding organisations worldwide. Since 2012 UNOY and member organisations worked intensively towards adoption of Resolution 2250. Now the #youth4peace campaign aims to ensure Resolution 2250 is actively implemented.

Beyond Skin have been identifying and recruiting Youth4Peace young ambassadors to join a steering group for the campaign to develop, lead the programme and represent Northern Ireland internationally.

Darren Ferguson CEO of Beyond Skin said

“In previous years Springboard Opps have hosted the City Hall Peace Day event. Passing on the role to our Youth4Peace young people this year, we Beyond Skin recognise that this event is a legacy of Springboard's work in developing Peace Day and empowering young people. We are delighted to be working alongside CADA and the Inter-Faith Forum raising awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals and the #Youth4Peace initiative”

The event runs from 6.30pm – 8.30pm in the Great Hall, Belfast City Hall.

For further information email [email protected] or call 028 9027 0663.

Booking is not required for this event.

Notes to the editor

Beyond Skin are an organisation developing and delivering diversity and global education projects through Intercultural Arts in an aim to address racism and sectarianism. www.beyondskin.net

CADANI (Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies) are a network of 22 organisations based in Northern Ireland who carry out international development, advocacy, lobbying and global education work both locally and globally to tackle poverty and injustice. Many CADA members respond to  conflict-related issues and work on peacebuilding  in countries such as Syria, Sudan, DR Congo and Colombia.

Beyond Skin contact. Darren Ferguson  07792503913  [email protected]

#PeaceDay #Youth4Peace