Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (October 24, 2011) – Today the Small Hall of the Toktogul Satylganov Kyrgyz National Philharmonic Hall hosted the official celebration of the UN Day with participation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Roza Otunbayeva. This year UN Day is devoted to the International Day of Peace and UN’s peace building efforts in Kyrgyzstan.
“Peace and stability toward sustainable development” represents the overarching goal of the new UN strategic plan – United Nations Development Assistance Framework – which will serve as a basis for the UN’s work in 2012-2016. This theme is to consolidate national and international resources to strengthen and sustain achievements on the road to peaceful and productive coexistence of the diversity of ethnicities in Kyrgyzstan. Within this framework eighteen participating UN agencies, funds, programmes and commissions committed to contribute total of 186 million USD in grant aid to address country’s most pressing development needs.
It is important to highlight that UN is already providing assistance to Kyrgyz Republic to support stability and peace with funding from UN’s Peacebuilding Fund, which provided an amount of USD 10 million for implementation of numerous projects in partnership with the Government and civil society. These funds helped to restore important public infrastructure, provide for professional courses for 500 youths, engage women and youth in promoting ideas of peace and tolerance, recover important documents of several thousands of victicms of the June events, carry out an intense work with prosecutors, judges and lawyers to provide for protection of human rights and implement other projects aimed at restoring and strengthening peace.
Moreover, the UN delivered critical and large-scale humanitarian assistance to overcome the aftermath of April and June events of the last year. Only the Kyrgyzstan Flash Appeal to provide humanitarian assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic announced right after the June events has generated around 67 million US dollars for the country’s needs.
Although peace-building is a collective effort, involving the national and international communities, it is the Government of the country concerned that carries the main responsibility for setting priorities and ensuring that peace is sustained and development takes place.
“It is well recognized that the foundation for stability, reconciliation and a sustainable peace in any country, are the rule of law, justice, equality and non discrimination and the guarantee of human rights protection for all who live on its territory. Genuine implementation of existing laws and execution of legal and administrative reforms in these areas are the responsibility of the Parliament and Government, and should remain the priority. The UN system, through its current and future assistance stands ready to support the implementation of these laws and reforms” noted Alexander Avanessov, UN Resident Coordinator.
UN Day is celebrated since 1948 when the UN General Assembly announced October 24th, the date when the Charter of the United Nations came into force, as the UN Day. UN Day is devoted to highlighting the aims and achievements of the United Nations.
United Nations is unique organization which unites 193 states. It was founded in 1945 by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. The Kyrgyz Republic became the UN member state on 2 March 1992 and current is a member of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and serves as the Deputy Chairman of the UN Human Rights Council.
