International Day of Nonviolence in South Sudan
PRESS RELEASE
2nd October 2016
"Peace according to Ralpha Waldo; can not be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding. International Day of Nonviolence reminds us of the universal principles of tolerance, understanding and non-violence.To South Sudanese, it means joining our hearts, minds and hands to build; a nonviolent, peaceful and prosperous country where everyone enjoys basic rights and live in dignity."
ONAD in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Gender & Social Welfare- Jubek State and University of Juba; join the world to commemorate International Day of Nonviolence with calls for nationwide dialogue for peace and reconciliation. The United Nations (UN) on June 15th 2007 adopted October 2nd the birth day of Mahatma Gandhi as International Day of Nonviolence. The day is dedicated not only to remember Gandhi’s wisdom and nonviolent struggle for freedom and justice in India but to promote the culture of nonviolence globally. Commenting about the day, Moses Monday John, the Executive Director of ONAD said.“This year we are celebrating the event with a lot of pain but also with hopes for a peaceful future. This day reminds us as South Sudanese, to join our hearts, minds and hands to build; a nonviolent, peaceful and prosperous country where every person enjoys basic rights and live in dignity". Nonviolence is about constructive dialogue, tolerance and reconciliation with family members, neighbours, colleagues and adversaries. As Ralpha Waldo once said: “Peace can not be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.”We are all humans regardless of our ethnicity, gender, faith, political and religious identities or affiliations.
From this juncture, ONAD wishes to take this opportunity to encourage the Transitional Government of National Unity (ToGNU) to salvage and fully implement the Agreement on Resoluation of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS). The organization further urges JMEC, IGAD, AU[1], UN and international community to re-commit and support full implementation of the signed agreement as it is the only viable mechanism at hand for restoration of peace, stability and sustainable livelihood in the country. Any return to violence, will only inflict more suffering, displacement, lost of lives and properties.
Finally, ONAD appeals to all social media users (on Facebook, Twitter…etc) to counter hate messages with intellectual and constructive messages of love, patriotism and unity.
Its worthnoting that ONAD was initiated in 1994 by South Sudanese Students at the peak of the civil war. The organization over the last 20 years has attracted large and diversified members in terms of ethnicity, religion and gender from all across the country. ONAD works for a nonviolent, peaceful and democratic country through trainings and advocacy in; Nonviolence and Peacebuilding, Governance and Civic Education, Community Empowerment and Gender and Organizational Development.
For more information, contact: Moses Monday John, Executive Director at the following addresses: Kololo Road off US Embassy Street, Juba Nabari Block 4, PO Box 508 Juba, South Sudan. Website: www.onadev.org. E-mail: directoronadsouthsudan@gmail.com. Telephone: +211 921352592.
[1]JMEC: Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, IGAD: Inter-governmental Authority for Development, AU: African Union.
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