Children Celebrate Peace Day at the United Nations in Vienna:
To mark International Day of Peace 2006, UNIS Vienna invited over 300 children and young peop
le aged 6-15 to the United Nations building in Vienna, to sing songs of peace together and to ring the peace bell. The children come from 70 different countries, and are studying at international and local schools in and around Vienna. They have participated in an art competition "Writing and Painting for Peace", organized by the Austrian NGO
Verein zur Völkerverständigung (Association for Intercultural Understanding), in which every school has created an individual art project, ranging from painting to composition to performance art, all on the topic of peace. The children, many of whom were wearing their national costumes, received awards from UNIS Director Nasra Hassan and Secretary-General of the Austrian United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Committee Gudrun Berger.
Panel Discussion on Women, Peace and Security:
The Vienna-based NGO Committee on the Status of Women held a panel discussion on Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, sponsored by UNIS Vienna. Panelists included: Daniela Rozgonova, Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO); Elisabeth Koegler, Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Paulina Analena, UN Security and Safety Section/UN Staff Council at Vienna; Ulrike Schelander, Care Austria; and Rosy Weiss, Vienna NGO Committee on the Status of Women, International Alliance of Women (Moderator). UNIS distributed the Secretary-Generals' message and Peace Day information materials.
Film Screening of "Peace One Day"
Following the panel discussion, UNIS Vienna held a screening of "Peace One Day", (a Peace One Day production in association with the BBC and Passion Pictures), on the story of International Day of Peace.
Peace Mile in Vienna's City Centre
A network of NGOs organized a "Peace Mile" today on the main square in Vienna's city centre. Different organizations have set up information tables on the subject of peace. UNIS Vienna distributed the Secretary-Generals' message and the peace day postcards and posters.
United Buddy Bears in Vienna's City Centre
On another historic square in Vienna's city centre, the City of Vienna held an exhibition of the "United Buddy Bears" and art project for international understanding with sculptures of more than 140 bears representing different countries as friendly messengers of peace.
All events were widely reported on in all major Austrian media. Peace Day was celebrated at numerous other events held by schools and NGOs all over Austria.
