Brazzaville, Congo - In partnership with the UN High Commission for Reintegration of Ex-combatants, the Universal Peace Federation celebrated the International Day of Peace in Congo-Brazzaville on September 21. The chairman of UPF-Congo, Hon. Justin Koumba, President of the National Assembly, welcomed the participants. Secretary General of UPF, Rev. Michel Ndolo, described the Universal Peace Federation's vision for peace based on the motto of "One Family under God."
The panel of speakers included the President of the college counselors, the Deputy High Commissioner of of the UN High Commission for Reintegration of Ex-combatants, the Representative of the UN System, and Dr. Julien Moufonda.
Certificates were given to newly-appointed Ambassadors for Peace.
Note: Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration are goals of UN peacekeeping operations. Disarmament involves removing weapons and ammunition from people involved in fighting, demobilization means disbanding armed groups, and reintegration involves former combatants returning home and being part of a peaceful community.
To read UPF's Declaration on the International Day of Peace 2009, click here.