Statements from 2010
Message from UN Secretary-General on Africa Day
Written by Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General Tuesday, 25 May 2010 17:45
Africa Day (25 May), which marks the founding in 1963 of the Organization of African Unity, now known as the African Union, provides an annual opportunity to reflect on the challenges and achievements of the Governments and peoples of Africa.
This year’s celebration has particular significance as it marks the 50th anniversary of independence of several Francophone African states and Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation.
The independence movement that swept Africa five decades ago brought many new members to the United Nations, resulting in a new focus on the continent’s development needs and heightened emphasis on greater democracy in the management of international relations.
By consistently reminding the international community of its responsibility to the most vulnerable, and affirming that we are all members of a global family of nations, Africa has helped to reshape the global agenda.
In turn, United Nations entities have played a key role promulgating the fundamental values of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights among the diverse nations of Africa. From peace and security, to social and economic development and regional integration, the United Nations has proven itself an indispensable partner.
Our extensive presence on the ground in Africa encompasses peacekeeping, peace building, mediation and conflict prevention, and there is growing cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union Commission, exemplified by regular dialogue between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council.
Almost every UN entity is working closely with African partners to tackle internal strife, attempts at unconstitutional changes of power, violence against civilians — especially women — the challenges of youth unemployment, and the burdens of disease, climate change and food insecurity.
The September Summit on the Millennium Development Goals offers yet another venue for upholding our commitments to Africa and supporting the continent’s efforts to implement its New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Africa is poised to capitalize on its potential.
On this Africa Day, let us rededicate ourselves to fruitful partnerships in pursuit of peace and sustainable progress for all the continent’s people.
UN News Centre "as prepared for delivery" version of this message
African Union Chairperson's Message
Written by Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union Tuesday, 25 May 2010 09:34
On the occasion of the celebration of Africa Day (May 25, 2010)
Dear African Sisters and Brothers,
Friends and Partners of Africa,
Like every year, today 25 May 2010, we are celebrating Africa Day. On this occasion, the African Union has chosen the theme “Building and Sustaining Peace through Sports” to mark this year’s commemoration.
A few weeks to the kick off of the 19th edition of the Soccer World Cup which Africa will be hosting for the first time in history, the choice of this theme gives full meaning to the event, as it highlights our resolve to make all possible efforts in order to fulfill the vision of Africa towards peaceful co-existence, integration, prosperity and proactiveness on the global scene.
It also echoes the decision taken in Tripoli in August 2009, by our Heads of State and Government, to proclaim 2010 as the Year of Peace and Security in Africa. It further marks a strong and symbolic moment in the history of our continent, as it has brought to the lime light the power of sports and its contribution to peace and social cohesion.
The 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa that sealed the reconciliation in the rainbow nation, which hitherto had been torn by decades of apartheid, is worthy of remembrance.
This feat was achieved thanks to the personal involvement of President Nelson Mandela, a charismatic and visionary leader, who accomplished a highly symbolic gesture during the competition by wearing the shirt of the Springboks, considered by the Black community as the squad of the enemy.
This paved the way for an era of pardon and allayed the fears of the Afrikaans community. Sports have thus become a symbol of unity, national reconciliation, a means by which a nation communes in fervour beyond all its cleavages, through “a sacred union” with its national team.
President Mandela once said that football like rugby, cricket and other team sports has the power to heal old wounds. This is a legacy that our continent like the South African people as a whole, can be proud of and, above all, draw lessons from.
History is full of examples which illustrate that sports can contribute to the achievement of peace and development goals through the surrounding media hype and, symbolic acts. The football encounter between Armenia and Turkey that led to the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries is one such example.
Sports also has the unparallel potential of mobilization in a globalized world; and its capacity to attract and affect the masses and keep the attention of young generations, make it a formidable tool of training, education, awareness-raising, promotion of values of tolerance, fairplay, courage, good conduct, rigor, courage, perseverance, effort, humility in victory, self-control in defeat and respect for the opponent.
By presenting sport as a powerful instrument for peace promotion, we would like to reassert our faith in the values inherent to sports which are consonant with universal values and our shared African values.
We would like to demonstrate our will to further centre our actions on improving humankind and its values, through activities which are fulfilling like sports, exchanges and competition, in a bid to effectively speed up peace in our societies, amongst our States and with the rest of the world.
In a Continent that continues to be the unfortunate ground for conflict despite the operationalisation of most of our instruments and unrelenting efforts; in a region that has the largest number of refugees and internally displaced persons and where a number of post-conflict reconstruction processes are on-going, sports is an essential tool which, on the one hand, can foster links and ties between communities that have been divided by conflict, and on the hand, improve the relationships between peace keeping missions and civilian populations.
It is against this backdrop, for example, that the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) organised tournaments such as the African Championship of Nations (CHAN) in collaboration with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), a unique event in the history of peace-keeping missions, the first edition of which took place in Cote d’Ivoire, a country emerging from crisis. Sports therefore can contribute to restoring peace which is vital for elections.
Peace is not just simply the absence of war; peace is also synonymous with development.
Our Continent has enormous untapped potential, underscoring the need to promote values of solidarity to guarantee it a better future. Sports, that by nature have unifying characteristics involving participation and developing the phenomena of inclusion and citizenry, can significantly contribute to achieving our Continent’s development.
On my part, in light of the new context of globalization of which Africa is part and parcel and an actor, and in considering that 2010 is, the year in which many African States are celebrating their fiftieth anniversary of independence, I am confident that efforts to concretise this dream of an independent, united, prosperous and peaceful Africa nurtured by the Founding Fathers will bear fruit.
As the Olympic motto suggests, we should not set limits to our collective undertaking to firmly establish our Continent’s sustainable development. Let us remain ambitious and highly performing champions so that together we can ensure the future and Peace of the Continent.
Citius, altius, forties! Swifter, Higher, Stronger! United we remain for a winning Africa!
I wish you all a happy Africa Day!
UPF Statement on Africa Day
Written by UPF-International Monday, 24 May 2010 08:31
On the occasion of Africa Day, May 25th, 2010, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) extends its congratulations and best wishes to the African Union and all its member states, and the 900 million people of Africa.
As well as celebration, Africa Day is an opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing Africa and the world as we move into the second decade of this new millennium.
UPF is working through its chapters worldwide to promote dialogue and cooperation among religions, including the creation of an interreligious council at the United Nations; strengthen marriage and family, essential to end the scourges of poverty and AIDS; and promote service and good-will projects in and between nations to establish a culture of peace.
The UPF is committed to promoting peace and human development in all parts of the world. We are proud of our chapters throughout Africa — from the West to the East, from the North to the South — brothers and sisters who are working to build a world of lasting peace and help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
We applaud the African Union for focusing on "peace and security in Africa" and we look forward to exploring the ways in which we can support its work, along with the United Nations, toward a world of peace and prosperity for all.