Kismayo - Youth and elders from Kismayo joined hands on 7 September to commit to the pursuit of peace in an event organised by a local NGO, Jubba Youth & Media Advocacy Organisation, ahead of the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2014.

The event, which featured a football match, the performance of traditional songs and dramas and speeches by members of the community, among other things, was intended to reinforce the message that all Somalis can play a role in promoting the values of peace in the country.

Under the overarching theme for this year’s International Day of Peace, "the rights of people's to peace", Somali community-based organizations, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the wider UN family in Somalia are conducting a peace campaign that aims to emphasize the role of all parts of society in the quest for peace. A number of organizations, including youth groups, women’s organizations, religious leaders, refugees and people living with disabilities, will hold events across the country with the goal of promoting an understanding of the contribution every Somali citizen can make to peace-building and reconciliation.

The campaign will also include a series of university debates about the contribution of education, religion and the economy to peace in Somalia, as well as short films, radio dramas and radio messages promoting the role of ordinary Somalis in the country’! s search for meaningful peace and the dividends that come with stability. Look out for the hashtag #peaceday on social media to find out more about the campaign and to let the world know what you are doing for peace in Somalia.