You are here

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in West and Central, and youth networks are organizing a media campaign to celebrate this year’s International Day of Peace, which is on the 21 September 2020. The theme of the media campaign is #YouthforPeace & #PeaceinSahel, is an initiative aimed at mobilizing the various stakeholders in the region take concrete and sustainable actions to build peace.

UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Director, Mabingue Ngom, in an opinion piece notes that this year’s celebration, which is also the 20th anniversary of the UN Resolution on the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, is celebrated under the theme, “Shaping Peace Together.”  “It is significant to note that this year’s theme as well as that of 2019, which was “Climate Action for Peace”, have had a strong resonance with the Sahel,” says Mabingue Ngom

In the context of vulnerability of the Sahel region, this day is an opportunity for exchange and sharing on new approaches and alternatives for lasting and stable peace, particularly with the presentation of the Demography - Peace - Security project.

Indeed, UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office is involved in a research project on the relationship between Demography, Peace and Security in the Sahel including Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

Significant progress has been made in the implementation of this project, which includes the production of a “white paper” on the Sahel, three monographic studies on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, two statistical analysis reports on the relationship between demographic factors and insecurity in the Sahel.

These publications have been analyzed and reviewed by a scientific committee made up of renowned personalities, Institutes. They are being edited and will be presented by the UNFPA Regional Director Mabingue Ngom, through a Blog scheduled to be launched on 21 September 2020 on the occasion of the international day of peace.

In addition to the launch of the Blog on Demography Peace Security and the media campaign, other activities will radio interactive discussions with young people in partnership with the youth organisation “Parole aux Jeunes,” a vigil for peace as well as a readout of the resolutions of the petition launched by youth networks including AfriYAN around the theme “What type of advocacy around young people for peace in the Sahel?

UNFPA will continue to work with youth networks and governments and development partners to create platforms and nurture initiatives that build peace and ensure sustainable development in the Sahel and beyond.