International Peace Day, marked annually on the 21st of September, was celebrated in Guinea-Bissau with different initiatives conducted by civil society groups with support from the United Development Programme (UNDP).

Women's Peace Table

Women's organizations from Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and The Gambia organized a peace table in Bissau, under the motto, "For a peaceful and secure region", to discuss and share information about opportunities and challenges to consolidate peace in the subregion. The event was organized by the Guinea- Bissau Women's Political Platform (PPM) in partnership with the Women's Platform for Peace in Casamance (PFPC) and the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), with UNDP support.

Speaking at the event, Aissatu Camara Injai, first vice president of the PPM, highlighted the importance of peace in the development process and the need to work together with the neighboring countries to consolidate peace. “Peace is synonymous with development; without peace, you cannot reach development. The problems that happen in one country can automatically affect another country. Since we know that together we can do a lot, we have joined synergies to work for peace”, she stated.

UNDP as a traditional partner of the PPM, reiterated its commitment to promoting peace and human rights in Guinea- Bissau, in the opening speech delivered by the head of the Governance Cluster, Luana Natali, in lieu of the UNDP Resident Representative. “We remain committed to assisting the national authorities and civil society in the process of dialogue, national reconciliation, and priority reforms to consolidate stability’’, she said.

Five minutes of silence for peace

25+ members of the Civil Society Organizations Consultation Space of Guinea-Bissau also marked the International Peace Day with 5 minutes of silence to advocate for peace in the country. On the occasion, on behalf of the Consultation Space, a declaration was read calling for peace, inclusive development, political and social dialogue, and respect for human rights. The declaration underscored the current challenges the country is facing, which threaten peace, and pointed 10 measures that could be adopted for sustaining peace to become a reality. 

The Consultation Space also promoted a radio debate in two national radios later in the day with Civil Society Organizations that work in promoting peace in Guinea-Bissau, with the support of UNDP Guinea-Bissau through the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.