Mrs. Aruna Chandaria, co-chair of the Chandaria Foundation signs the Abuja Peace Declaration.

At the close of the Global Peace Leadership Conference Abuja 2013, political leaders, media professionals, community and regional leaders as well as religious and tribal leaders from more than 20 nations signed the Abuja Peace Declaration for Peace and Development in Africa. They committed to creating a strategic platform to promote universal values for peacebuilding and our shared values as One Family under God. The Declaration formally launched the African Leadership Mission, a coalition of leaders, including former heads of African nations that pursue the action items on the Declaration, which include the following:

• • • • Promoting moral and innovative leadership
      • Developing character and creativity education
      • Generating community driven development and youth entrepreneurship initiatives
      • Fostering interfaith cooperation
      • Implementing other projects like Global Peace Festivals and regional youth and peace forums that express human solidarity

Faith leaders, including representatives of the Islamic Sultan of Sokoto, the Catholic archbishop of Abuja, and the head of the Nigerian Inter-faith Action Association, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, affirmed common values and a shared commitment to peace. Bishop Sunday drew applause when he declared: “We are all related!”

(Photo Credit: NewsIs)

This groundbreaking conference comes at a pivotal point in African development. Salamatu Hussaini-Suleiman, representative of the Economic Community of West African States, in her speech a day earlier, reminded the audience “Africa has the fastest-growing economies in the world, and that this is the time to reverse identity based hatred, insurgency and other disruptive security threats to the continent.” Dr. Moon encouraged African nations to chart a new course of economic and social development that avoids the mistakes of current developed nations.

During his closing remarks Dr. Moon marveled at Africa’s spirit and potential. “Africans have not been overwhelmed  by their challenges. They have the spirit they have the sense of hope to build a brighter future for themselves, their families, for their future generations. That, that is the more precious than all the gold, oil or diamonds that are on this continent. That is what will allow African to lift itself from its challenges that will bring a bright future for their children and their children’s children.”

He called on participants to “take the first step” and make the Abuja Declaration their mission in life in order to secure a positive future for not only their nation, but for the continent of Africa. To a rising applause he urged, “Become the leaders of transformational change. And believe me, God’s abundant blessing will shine and a new tomorrow shall begin.”

The Global Peace Leadership Conference entitled, “Moral and Innovative Leadership: Building Sustainable Peace for a Prosperous Future” was held in Abuja, Nigeria from November 7-9.

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The Abuja Declaration was signed at the close of the Global Peace Leadership Conference 2013 held in Abuja, Nigeria by political, media, academic, religious, community, business and civic leaders from over 20 nations. The Declaration formally launched the African Leadership Mission, a coalition of leaders, including former heads of African nations that pursue the action items on the Declaration.

Representatives from over 20 nations signed the Abuja Peace Declaration for Peace and Development in Africa at the close of the Global Peace Leadership Conference 2013 in Abuja, Nigeria. (Photo credit: NewsIs)

Abuja Declaration for Peace and Development in Africa

ACKNOWLEDGING the sovereignty of Almighty God, the source of inalienable rights of all members of the human family, and the basis for the equality, dignity and intrinsic value of all people as One Family under God;

AFFIRMING the central role of universal moral principles and values that strengthen families, the basic building blocks of an equitable and prosperous society;

RECOGNIZING that without shared values there can be no peace: they represent a fundamental pre-condition to sustain development;

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that children and youth are positive sources of energy which can be directed towards developing competence to provide mentoring, volunteerism and selfless service to people;

AFFIRMING our commitment to the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, the UN Millennium Development Goals, the African Charter, and the Sustainable Development Goals as well as new models of community-driven development;

We therefore, as African and international delegates from more than 20 nations with diverse cultural traditions, are determined to take charge of our destiny, and jointly proclaim our Resolutions to:

Article 1. Create a strategic platform to promote universal principles for peacebuilding and our shared values as One Family under God.

Article 2. Establish a joint mechanism for promoting moral and innovative leadership as a strategy for building Sustainable Peace for a Prosperous Future.

Article 3. Strengthen the Pan-African vision for promoting volunteerism and service through the African Peace Service Corps.

Article 4. Promote character and creativity educational programs to advance moral and innovative leadership, character competency and entrepreneurship as essential complements to intellectual development.

Article 5. Work collaboratively with the UN, government, the media, private sector and civil society organizations to promote innovative community-driven development and youth entrepreneurship initiatives.

Article 6. Promote interfaith, cross-cultural initiatives and innovative models that foster mutual understanding, respect, harmonious co-existence and peace.

Article 7. Promote Global Peace Festivals, regional and local forums as well as youth, sports, cultural and artistic projects as expressions of human solidarity.

Having understood and affirmed our commitment to further conflict resolution, development and sustainable peace, we hereby commit to support these goals and actions by affixing our signatures below and by forging innovative partnerships in the public, private and civil society sectors.

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