UN dedicates peace day to Leah Sharibu, victims of violence

United Nations Ambassador for Peace, Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack, yesterday, said this year’s International Day of Peace would be “in remembrance of the Leah Sharibus of this world,  the  over 6,000 persons killed in the Cameroun crisis from 2006 till date, the 2.6 million persons displaced in Sierra Leone and the over 1.9 million displaced persons in Nigeria.”

Lamenting that women and children have been major victims of violence and other forms of killings, she added that “this year’s International Day of Peace celebrates the power of global solidarity for building a peaceful and sustainable world.

Speaking at a symposium to commemorate the global event in Abuja, Sydney-Jack listed Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroun, Mali, Burkina-Faso and Nigeria as some of the countries in Africa going through recurrent tragedies and incessant attacks by armed groups and extremists.

The one-day programme, which was organised by a non-governmental agency, One Percent International, attracted sympathy to women and children, who were identified as the burden bearers of violence.

Also commenting, founder of the NGO, Ambassador Stephanie Nnadi, said the theme of the event, “Action for Peace,” was apt.