CSO CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE- BOMA FORT PORTAL

Geust of Honour  visiting  RIC-NET Stall

The theme for the International Day of Peace in 2018 is “The Right to Peace - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70” resound in both songs, plays and speeches at the international day of peace celebration in Boma fort portal.

Graced by Gen. Salim Saleh as chief guest, the celebration started with a walk through Fort portal Municipality, the NGOs show of documentation of their peace efforts and development work and presentation of Foot Peace Ambassador Youths.

Gen Salim Saleh takilng to Foot peace Ambosandor Mr. Abraham from BYEAH

“We the peace actors of the Rwenzori region including, security, religious, political, CSO and cultural leaders gathered here at St. Joseph's inn, Fort Portal, Kabarole district on this 20th Day of September 2018 in commemoration of the international day of peace celebrations; We recognize the continued existence of inter-ethnic tensions within our region anchored on struggle for political, social, cultural and economic leverage;

RIC-NET was among other CSOs that participated in the peace celebration by supporting 48 youth to attend and present songs, poems and memorandum on peace efforts and supporting the Batwa- as ethnic minority group to express their peaceful coexistence concerns.

M John Silco from RIC-NET presented the regional leaders Peace Week Communiqué; the communiqué stated that: "We recognize the intractable tendencies of geo-ethno-political tensions within our region due to deep-seated disagreements over governance issues relating to service delivery, access to and control over resources, creation of ethinicised administrative units and political intolerance; We recognize the complexities involved in upholding the respect for human rights for all and the much needed efforts towards furthering human rights for all; We are cognizant of tendencies of some leaders, elders and the elite in socializing the youth to hate and perpetuate acts of conflict and violence; We are aware of continued delays by some political and cultural actors in our region to embrace dialogue, reconciliation and mutual respect;

 AS We Commemorate the International Day of Peace, We Call Upon Leaders and all people in the Rwenzori region to value the inter-ethnic diversities of our region and uphold the right of every ethnic group to live and work peacefully in any part of the Rwenzori region; Local and central governments to commit to efficient and effective service delivery for the common good; All leaders and the general public to uphold human rights for all; Leaders and elders to respect the youth and mobilize them into acts of promote nonviolence; All leaders to embrace dialogue, reconciliation and mutual respect.

Finally on this day, we commit to use our available resources to further values of peace, nonviolence and respect for human rights in our region and country; Engage those who propagate violence, conflict and human rights violations in our peace building, violence prevention and human rights work; Engage government, cultural and religious institutions as well as other actors to further peace, nonviolence and respect for human rights”

Gen. Salim Saleh addressing people at Boma- Fort Portal for international peace celebration