[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 274 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 274

             Supporting the goals and ideals of Peace Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 17, 2009

 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. Harkin) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
             Supporting the goals and ideals of Peace Day.

Whereas, beginning in 2002, the United Nations has designated September 21 of 
        each year as the International Day of Peace, which is known in the 
        United States as Peace Day;
Whereas the United Nations dedicates the International Day of Peace to the 
        cessation of hostilities and nonviolence, and calls upon all Nations and 
        people to commemorate the day appropriately, including through 
        educational efforts, and public awareness;
Whereas Peace Day activities around the world include vaccination campaigns, 
        peace walks, concerts, peace-related discussions and debates, poetry 
        readings, mass prayer ceremonies, art exhibitions, memorial services, 
        school assemblies, and sporting events;
Whereas, on Peace Day 2006, the World Food Programme carried out a 60-ton food 
        drop in Southern Sudan;
Whereas, on Peace Day 2007, the Peace One Day organization worked alongside the 
        United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization 
        (WHO), and the Afghan Ministry of Public Health to vaccinate 1,400,000 
        children of Afghanistan against the polio virus and, on Peace Day 2008, 
        approximately 14,000 health workers and volunteers delivered polio 
        vaccinations to 1,600,000 children under the age of 5 in 6 Afghan 
        provinces;
Whereas, on Peace Day 2007, Star Syringe vaccinated children in rural areas 
        against measles, diptheria, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and whooping cough 
        in 20 locations, including Uganda, India, Ethiopia, and Indonesia;
Whereas, on Peace Day 2007, in the conflict-torn South Kivu province of the 
        Democratic Republic of Congo, UNICEF and other organizations provided 
        insecticide-treated mosquito nets to protect 600,000 children from 
        malaria, and also provided vitamin A, de-worming medication, and measles 
        immunizations;
Whereas, on Peace Day 2007, there were 82 Peace Day initiatives in Afghanistan 
        alone, involving more than 30 United Nations agencies, government 
        departments, radio stations, and civil society organizations, and 
        including arms handover ceremonies, community prayers for peace, 
        painting schools white, educational activities, and a Peace Walk through 
        the streets of Heart, Afghanistan;
Whereas the Peace One Day organization provides free educational materials to 
        schools in the United States and worldwide that enable young people to 
        prepare for and participate in Peace Day activities, learn the skills 
        needed to resolve conflicts peacefully, and cultivate a sense of active 
        global citizenship; and
Whereas the ``One Day One Goal'' initiative promotes soccer matches in all 
        member states of the United Nations on Peace Day, and ``One Day One 
        Goal'' soccer matches reflect cooperation, unity, and the power of 
        soccer to bring people together as part of Peace Day in many countries, 
        including Iraq, Uganda, Afghanistan, Burundi, Cambodia, the United Arab 
        Emirates, the Cote d'Ivoire, the United States, and the United Kingdom: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) expresses its support for the goals and ideals 
        celebrated on Peace Day, which is observed each year on 
        September 21;
            (2) supports continuing efforts to raise global awareness 
        of the goals of Peace Day and to engage all sectors of society 
        in the peaceful observance of the International Day of Peace, 
        in accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 
        55/282 of September 7, 2001, including work with United Nations 
        agencies and non-governmental organizations to promote life-
        saving and humanitarian activities on Peace Day; and
            (3) encourages people in the United States to observe Peace 
        Day, September 21, 2009, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, 
        and educational activities, in order to raise awareness of the 
        need for peaceful resolution of conflicts of all kinds.
                                 <all>