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WELCOME REMARKS
AT THE
LAUNCH OF THE UNITED
NATIONS
SCHOOLS’ ESSAY COMPETITION
Gillian
Lindsay-Nanton
Resident
Coordinator
United Nations
System in Jamaica
UNDP Conference Room
1 Lady Musgrave Road,
Kingston 5
14 March 2000
WELCOME REMARKS
LAUNCH OF UNITED NATIONS SCHOOLS’ ESSAY COMPETITION
14 March 2000
The Honourable Burchell Whiteman – Minister of
Education & Culture
Dr. Claudia Harvey – UNESCO Representative
Other Representatives of the UN system
Dr. Nadine Scott – President – Jamaica Teachers
Association
Mr. Will Rodgers – Senior Vice President – Air Jamaica
Members of the Media
Ladies & Gentlemen
_ I am pleased that you could all attend the launch of
the United Nations Schools’ Essay Competition this morning, and I wish to
extend a warm welcome to everyone. I
particularly wish to welcome Minister Whiteman, and to thank him for his
support.
_ This Schools’ Essay Competition which has as its theme
– The United Nations: Committed to Peace and Human Development must be
viewed within the context of year 2000 which was proclaimed in 1997 by the
General Assembly of the United Nations as the
“International Year for the Culture of Peace”. Also the period 2001 – 2010 has been declared as the
“International Decade for a culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children
of the World”.
_ The Essay Competition must also be seen within the
context of the work of the United Nations.
As you must know, every year, the United Nations observes the
International Day of Peace, in September.
No accident that this launch comes so close to Peace Day 2000 which was
celebrated on 7th March 2000.
_ For the United Nations, there is no higher goal, no
deeper commitment and no greater ambition than preventing armed conflict.
_ I should tell you that up until 1997, globally, there
was relative stability and a declining trend in the number of conflicts. However, this trend was reversed in 1998, as
there was a significant increase in terms of conflicts e.g. Angola,
Guinea-Bissau, Kahmir and Kosovo, Eritrea & Ethiopia, most recently in East
Timor – to name a few.
_ Interestingly, most of the conflicts are within states
rather than between states. And to this
extent civilian populations are more affected, particularly women and children.
_ Evidence does suggest that the causes of violent
conflict are strongly linked to economic and social decline. Therefore it
is clear that the strongest base for peace is prosperity and equity, and the
surest way to prevent armed conflict is to promote sustainable human
development.
_ But peace does not only mean the absence of war. Broadly, building a culture of peace means
fighting hunger, social injustice, poverty and inequality, rather than each
other. It is a set of values,
attitudes, traditions and modes of behaviour based on the practice of good
governance and the promotion of the rule of law, transparent political
processes, a commitment to eradicate corruption, and independent judiciary,
vibrant civil society institutions, the empowerment of women and as well,
respect for human rights.
_ Governments have an essential role to play in
promoting and strengthening a culture of peace. Civil society needs to be fully engaged in fuller development of
a culture of peace. The educative and
informative role of the media contributes to the promotion of a culture of
peace. A key role in the promotion of a
culture of peace belongs to parents, teachers, religious bodies and
groups----all of us.
_ The United Nations system in Jamaica is therefore
pleased to be playing a critical role in the promotion and strengthening of a
culture of peace and in so doing, collaborating with the Ministry of Education,
the Jamaica Teachers Association, and Air Jamaica in launching and executing
this Schools’ Essay Competition.
_ Education at all levels is one of the principal means
to build a culture of peace. Hence,
our hope is that in preparing the Essays, students/children will have an
opportunity to research and write on some of the issues that I have already
highlighted, helping to instill in them the values and goals of a culture of
Peace and Human Development, particularly within the context of Jamaica.
_ This Essay Competition focuses on two age
categories. Ages 12-15 years and 16-19
years. The length of the Essay is
expected to be 500 words. They will be
judged on creativity, innovation and clarity.
Closing date for entries – 31 May 2000.
_ First prize – Trip to UN Headquarters in New
York. Winners will have an opportunity
to observe the General Assembly proceedings.
Cash prizes for second and third place winners, but more importantly
equipment for schools – television, computers.
_ Announcement of winners around 24 October 200 – United
Nations Day.
_ Again, very pleased that you could be here with us
this morning and to participate in this event.
