Arab children to join global peace initiative

The programmes, which will be organised across Abu Dhabi under the slogan: 'Peace First..Peace Always' will include a peace message from Arab children participating in the event to the world's leaders to express their desire to live in peace.

As the theme of the event focuses this year on peace, the Biggest Peace Message ever will be presented Shaikh Zayed, according to the organisers.

Speaking at a Press conference, held on Sunday to announce the event, Jamal bin Obeid Al Bah, Chairman of the AFO, said a high-level delegation from the Arab League, in addition to representatives from the AFO will participate in the festivities.

He said that a statement, which stresses on the importance of the role of children in the Arab society, will be issued at the end of the festival.

Mr Bah also said that AFO, in cooperation with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ASCWA), will develop a project on empowerment of Arab family in various social, economic and cultural fields to achieve sustainable development in Arab countries.

He said that for the first time the AFO will devise a comprehensive strategy on Arab family.

"The proposed strategy focuses on fighting poverty and wrong social practices in the Arab societies, and the impact of media on Arab families," said Mr Bah.

The plan will also target enhancing maternal and child care services in the Arab countries and the role of education in strengthening social structure of Arab societies, added Mr Bah.

On the activities of the festival, Dr Hassan Obeid, Adviser to the AFO, said scientific symposia will be conducted on the sidelines of the festival.

He said the forum was aimed at increasing the awareness about the culture of peace and correcting the stereotyped image portrayed by the West against Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance.

An operetta dubbed 'Call for Peace', where Arab children will gather to chant 'Let Us Live in Peace', creating emotive pictures with vivid colours in circles and shapes symbolising love and freedom, will also be staged as part of the festivities.

An 'Arab Peace City', where children from many Arab countries including UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Libya, Sudan, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Mauritania will participate, will also be set. More than 10,000 children will take part in a peace marathon.