Celebrating peace for UN’s 75th anniversary
KUALA LUMPUR: The 75th anniversary of United Nations was marked together with the International Day of Peace by the Pan Pacific and Southwest Asia Women’s Association (PPSEAWA).
In a low-key event here yesterday, PPSEAWA celebrated this year’s International Day of Peace, which takes place every Sept 21.
This year’s celebration, which took on the theme “Shaping Peace Together”, is aimed at spreading compassion, kindness and hope, especially in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In her opening remarks, PPSEAWA vice-president Dr Jayanthi Krishnan said the theme of this year’s celebration was very apt.
“Let us have compassion and spread peace so that we can live in a harmonious environment and not as each other’s enemies,” she said, adding that the enemy was Covid19.
Deputy Health director-general, Datuk Dr Chong Chee Keong said Malaysia was dealing with Covid-19 well so far, but should not lose focus.
“To continue the success achieved so far, we must all become our own frontliner and quickly adapt to the new normal,” he said in his speech.
“We should not only be united when facing a common enemy (Covid-19) but we should pledge to show the same unity long after Covid-19 is conquered.”
Stefan Priesnar, the United Nations’ Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, said International Peace Day was observed worldwide and served as a reminder that peace should never be taken for granted.
“Peace has not completely been achieved in global society but the UN has contributed hugely to prevent conflicts, including multiple closed peacekeeping missions.” he said in his speech.
Priesnar also thanked Malaysia for its excellent contribution to peacekeeping missions, with Malaysians clad in blue helmets currently serving in Lebanon and western Sahara under the UN banner.
“The blueprint to avoid conflicts and achieve a better and more sustainable future is by incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG),” he said, adding that the Malaysian government had been aligning its strategies with the SDG.
In conjunction with the United Nations’ 75th anniversary, the public are invited to take a minute-long online survey to share their thoughts on the issues the UN should focus on for the next 25 years at UN75.