Achieving peace in our time
African leaders gather for summit
APEACE conference drawing African leaders from across the continent begins today at the Westin Hotel. The groundbreaking conference titled “African Leaders of Peace Summit: achieving peace in our lifetime” will according to the organisers, showcase “the Africa that our forefathers dreamt of – an Africa that is flourishing and at the forefront of achieving peace”.
South Africa is already an active contributor toward peace and stability on the continent.
In line with the theme for this year’s Africa Day celebrations, “A year of Nelson Mandela – Building a better Africa and a better world’, South Africa is playing a leading role in assisting with the AU’s efforts to resolve conflicts.
The conference will bring together citizens from across southern Africa including government ministers, civil society organisations, youth, religious leaders and media, as well as special guests including African heroes of peace and Nobel laureates and will focus on “practical solutions to achieving peace in our lifetime”.
The organisers said: “None of us are safe from the many threats, and although there have been numerous efforts to achieve peace, it is hard to deny that we are still living in fear of losing our lives to terrorism, gangsterism and other forms of violence.
“Recognising the imminent threat posed by conflicts and wars, civil society and governments across the world have been working together with a clear purpose, to end all wars and replace a culture of violence with a culture of peace.”
The organisers hope the conference will provide a platform for former and current leaders of Africa to advocate an intergenerational dialogue to promote sustainable peace and security and develop a legal framework for a conflict-free Africa.
They want a resolution to establish a legal framework for peace that can be implemented at both national and international level, the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War will be discussed in the various sessions including peace education.
The declaration addresses principles of conflict resolution and international co-operation for peacebuilding such as respect of the international law, peaceful dispute settlement and spreading a culture of peace. – Staff Reporter