Over 10,000 signatures were collected in support of Peace Day in the UAE.
Over 10,000 signatures were collected over the weekend of Eid, in support for Peace Day in the UAE. To mark 21st September as the only official day of global ceasefire and non-violence, shoppers at the Mall of Emirates were asked to sign a giant candle in a mark of solidarity for peace.
Meanwhile three short films, directed by Emirati Ali Mostafa, were premiered at Cinestar on the same day.
This is the first time that Peace Day has been recognised in the UAE and has been the culmination of a small group of volunteers, who upon watching the film Peace One Day, decided it was time that people in the UAE knew about 21st September and what could be achieved through having just one day of no violence.
For example, last year in Afghanistan 1.6 million children were vaccinated against polio as a direct result of a reduction in violence. And in the Democratic Republic of Congo, UNICEF lead an integrated immunization campaign to over 600,000 children in the conflict affected South Kivu province.
This year over 100 million people in over 200 countries recognised 21st September as a day of peace with more vaccination campaigns, peace walks, debates, poetry readings, peace prayer ceremonies, art exhibitions, memorial services and in Paris a concert was held with rock superstar, Lenny Kravitz headlining.
Speaking about what had been achieved in the UAE, Chiara Maioni, who helped start the project said: “We only began building awareness in the UAE 10 weeks ago and already we have received endorsement from by H.H. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and met with Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development. We have also produced three short films, held a screening of the film Peace One Day to over 500 guests and built our website www.peaceday.ae.”
Speaking about what the future holds for Peace Day in the UAE, Emirati film producer and spokesperson for the project, Nayla Al Khaja added: “This year has been purely about building awareness so that we have a solid foundation with which to create a much bigger event next year. Then perhaps we will have the partnerships in place so that we also can contribute to areas of conflict and hunger. So whilst we have achieved a phenomenal amount in a short space of time we are not running before we can walk.”
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For more information or to speak to Chiara or Nayla please contact:
James Holmes: james.holmes@dubai.leoburnett.com
Sheerin Dariani: sheerin.dariani@dubai.mslpr.com
