UNIS Vienna, in cooperation with the Austrian Network for Peace and Non-Violence, organized a commemorative event on the occasion of International Day of Peace, 21 September. The event was set in the colourful memorial plaza of the Vienna International Centre. As the highlight of the event, approximately 100 children of around 50 different nations from seven local and international schools in Vienna sang songs of peace with one voice.
Elementary school children from the American International School recited a peace poem titled "Wild Peace" by Yehuda Amichai.
The schools that participated in the event were: American International School, Berufsorientierte Islamische Fachschule für soziale Bildung, Danube International School, Islamisches Realgymnasium Wien, Lauder Chabad School, Vienna International School and Zwi Perez Chajes School. The children stood in front of the peace bell, which is also in the Plaza.
Nasra Hassan, Director UNIS opened the event by reading out the message of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Three representatives of the Austrian Network for Peace and Non-Violence gave a brief introduction to the challenges to peace in the 21st century; the impact of Austrian Nobel Peace Laureate Bertha von Suttner's philosophy on today's world; and an overview of the projects of the Network.
The closing song was "Let there be peace on earth", sung by the children.
Ms. Hassan invited the children to ring the peace bell to conclude the event, which they did with great enthusiasm. They, along with their teachers, were later taken on a guided tour at the VIC, on the invitation of UNIS.
The event was well attended by NGO representatives, school representatives, including school principals, representatives of the City of Vienna, diplomats and the staff of the Vienna-based UN organizations.
The event was covered by leading Austrian media (Der Standard, Wiener Zeitung, Kurier and Kronen Zeitung, Radio Wien, Austrian Press Agency, ORF Radio). Austrian television (ORF) covered the event for their children news programme.
An Austrian Radio report, immediately following the event, called it a 'sensation' to get western, Jewish and Muslem children, among many other nations/faiths to unite, to sing together.
The United Nations Office at Vienna also observed a minute of silence at noon, as requested by the Secretary-General, in his message on the occasion.
