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Opinion
Siddharth Chatterjee (@ sidchat1) is the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya. Walid Badawi | (@walidbadawi) is the UNDP Resident Representative in Kenya.
A historic handshake: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta bridge their differences and sign a declaration of peace between the two political leaders. March 9, 2018 Credit: State House
– In the midst of various global conflicts in the 1980s and 1990s, the International Day of Peace (IDOP) was established to commemorate the strengthening of the ideals of peace worldwide. Today, peace is not just the absence of conflict, but a fundamental prerequisite for development. In recognition of the crucial links between peace, respect for human rights and sustainable development, more than 36 indicators for peace were included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Like charity, peace begins at home.
Kenya stands out as a paradigm of locally crafted peace processes and cross-border initiatives with Ethiopia and Uganda that are gaining global visibility.
March 9, 2018 will go down in the Kenyan history books as one of many defining moments when the country took another step towards peace. On this day, on the steps of Harambee House, President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Honorable Raila Odinga shook hands. This averted a major political crisis that was characterized by calls for regional secession, economic boycotts, and mobilization for civil unrest.
The theme of this year’s PDO is ‘building peace together’, which reminds us of what has been achieved and what remains to be done to ensure a peaceful and just world. Amid ongoing conflicts around the world, UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for a global ceasefire, urging all parties to the conflict to lay down their arms and focus on the battle against the common enemy, the COVID-19 pandemic. . This call was by no means directed solely at the armed parties, but is an appeal to member states, regional partners, non-state actors, civil society organizations, to return to the fundamental values of the UN Charter.
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a series of inequalities and vulnerabilities in our societies that threaten human progress. For the first time since 1990, human development is on the decline, disproportionately affecting the most marginalized in our societies, women, the elderly, the unemployed youth, refugees and other vulnerable groups, especially those in humanitarian settings. That is why it is more important than ever to work together in all sectors and at all levels to “advance better”.
But with every crisis comes opportunity. The UN is working with countries around the world, including Kenya, to take immediate bold action to halt socio-economic impacts and put in place recovery strategies that are sustainable, transformative and innovative. Together, we have the opportunity to make a bold leap towards a sustainable, inclusive, peaceful and resilient future, with the SDGs as our compass.
In supporting the government and people of Kenya, the UN is not only responding to the dire health and economic needs of COVID-19, but we are also closely participating in the impact of the crisis on stability and social cohesion. .
The National Peacebuilding Strategy on Covid-19, to be launched during IDOP 2020, establishes an inclusive and integrated framework for the governance, peace and security sector to respond to and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. The Strategy is a great opportunity for all Kenyans to form peace together and lead the national debate in the direction of a united, peaceful and prosperous Kenya.
The 17 SDGs provide a framework to improve the conditions that will create peaceful societies while addressing the underlying causes and drivers of conflict. Peace enables each individual to achieve their human capacity, dignity and choice. Create an environment for optimal development. The mutually reinforcing nexus between peace and development places prevention and peacebuilding at the center of the UN’s work.
This year’s IDOP observance is particularly special as the UN celebrates its 75th anniversary. The UN General Assembly will mark the occasion at a time of enormous and unprecedented stress on people and the planet under the theme: “the future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism – facing COVID -19 through one share. ”
Kenya’s unwavering commitment to the UN and multilateralism has received international recognition, as evidenced by the recent Security Council elections from 2021 to 2023 and the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta as world youth champion.
As Kenya continues to shine on the world stage, it must also continue to demonstrate its determination to maintain peace and social cohesion at the national level. The inclusion of women and youth in all institutions and decision-making processes enshrined in the constitution must serve as the foundation for governance, no matter how bumpy the road ahead may be.
The effective implementation of the National Peacebuilding Strategy is the right way forward.
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