ECA and Indian Embassy to Observe International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October 2008
ECA Press Release No. 20/2008
Addis Ababa – 01 October 2008 - ECA - The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in cooperation with the Embassy of India, will hold an observance of the International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October at the United Nations Conference Centre, in Addis Ababa.
The day, which falls on 2 October, birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence, was established by a resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2007 as an occasion to reflect on and disseminate the message of non-violence. The resolution reaffirms “the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence” and the desire “to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence.” It states that: “Non-violence, tolerance, full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, democracy, development, mutual understanding and respect for diversity are interlinked and mutually reinforcing.”
The UNCC observance will begin at 14h40 and will feature remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ECA, Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, and Indian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to ECA and AU, H.E.
Mr. Gurjit Singh, as well as invited Ethiopian authorities. A short film on the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi will be shown to participants and the Gandhi Memorial lecture will be delivered.
An exhibition on the life of Mahatma Gandhi will be formally opened on this occasion, preceded by a traditional Indian lamp lighting ceremony.
Issued by the ECA Information and Communication Service P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tel: 251 11 5445098 Fax: +251-11-551 03 65 E-mail: ecainfo@uneca.org Web: www.uneca.org
