KABUL - A series of United Nations-facilitated television debates were held across Afghanistan in recent days to mark the International Day of Peace, with of the events' speakers – which included government officials, civil society activists and local elders – stressing the need to lay strong foundations for sustainable peace in the South Asian country which has experienced conflict for more than three decades.

The television debates were organized in seven regional hubs – Herat, Kunduz, Jalalabad, Gardez, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar and Bamyan – by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), in coordination with local media outlets, government offices and civil society groups to mark the Day, which falls on 21 September.

The Day was established in 1981 by a General Assembly resolution to coincide with its opening session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of September. On the Day, the United Nations invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace, strengthening its ideals, both within and among all nations and peoples.

The theme of this year’s observance is ‘Education for Peace,’ with the aim of highlighting that education is vital for building peaceful societies and fostering global citizenship, and with calls for greater investment in quality education and to reverse trends which show aid for schools and teachers dipping for the first time in a decade.

“On this International Day of Peace, let us pledge to teach our children the value of tolerance and mutual respect,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message for the Day. “Let us invest in the schools and teachers that will build a fair and inclusive world that embraces diversity. Let us fight for peace and defend it with all our might.”

There are currently 57 million children that do not have access to education, and millions more that need better schooling that go beyond the basis of reading and writing.

In one of the debates in Afghanistan, in the eastern city of Jalalabad, a civil society activist, Asadullah Laraway, said rampant corruption was the root cause of instability in the country.

“I think and I am sure that we can bring peace and stability in the country if the Afghan Government takes necessary measures to eliminate corruption,” said Mr. Laraway, who was one of four panel members in the debate, which was attended by some 50 people.

Another speaker, Nilofar Aziz, a member of the Nangarhar Provincial Council, said instability and war give rise to unemployment and weaken the education system. “All these factors may drastically increase the level of corruption, robbery, criminal acts and abduction,” added Ms. Aziz.

Speaking in a similar debate attended by 80 people in Herat, in the country’s west, last week, a female member of the Herat Provincial Peace Council, Hassiana Nikzad, said enough women should be involved in a peace process for it to be considered “legitimate and efficient.”

All the speakers in the Herat debate expressed their concerns about the country’s deteriorating security situation as well as its impact on civilians. They also underlined the need to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and financiers of those who resort to violence.

In a TV debate recorded on Thursday and broadcast by the local Khawar, Noorin and RTA television channels in north-eastern Kunduz province on Saturday and Sunday, speakers stressed the need for women and youth to play their part to promote peace in Afghanistan.

“You (youth) are the agents of change, play your significant role and do your best for the establishment of peace in your community,” said the secretary of the Kunduz Provincial Peace Committee, Wahidullah Rahmani, speaking in front of some 150 people, most of them young people.

International Day of Peace celebrations in Kunduz also included sports activities and poetry recitations. The neighbouring province of Takhar organized a similar TV debate, while a drawing competition was held in the north-eastern province Badakhshan.

In the south-eastern province of Paktya, some 300 people – including university teachers and students, government officials, religious leaders and civil society leaders – attended the recording of a TV debate at Paktya University on Thursday.

“Peace is the right of every Afghan; the international community has a strong obligation to cooperate with the Afghans in bringing peace and security,” said the head of the Paktya Provincial Peace Committee, Maulavi Khaliq Dad.

Another speaker, Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai, representing civil society, urged the international community to “sincerely” support the Afghan peace and reintegration programme.

Speaking at a debate in southern Kandahar province on Sunday, all of the six speakers highlighted the importance of peace in a society and its significance in an Islamic context. The debate, broadcast by 15 media outlets including Hewad TV and Radio, Kandahar RTA, Zhwandon TV, Ariana TV and Sanga Radio, was the first of its kind in the province as the ordinary local people had the opportunity to put questions to the speakers directly.

“The word ‘Islam’ means peace. Islam stresses on the Muslims and all human beings to live in peace,” said one of the panel members and the head of Kandahar Peace Committee, Haji Ata Mohammad. “In Afghanistan, we need peace more than anything else because it is the basic pillar of stability, development and prosperity.”

Members of the audience – that included students, teachers, members of civil society and women from various walks of life – asked a range of questions, including the role of the High Peace Council, effectiveness of peace process, future of Afghanistan, corruption resulting in violence.

Similar television round-table discussion in northern Mazar-e-Sharif followed speeches by local figures on culture of peace.

Deputy Governor of Balkh province, Mohammad Zahir Wahdat, said the culture of peace can start from home. “Everyone can start at home by making all efforts to bring up children with nonviolence mentality, by giving them love, and discouraging them of violence as they grow,” said Mr. Wahdat.

A member of civil society, Abdul Hamid Safowat, highlighted the importance of peace in economic and social development of a community, and encouraged everyone to participate in a healthy and democratic exercise, the election, to choose the leader of the country.

Providing basic education and investing in a thoughtful and academic generation were common suggestions made by almost all the six panelists.

“Whatever we do today would last just until a peace settlement is achieved, but to ensure a good future for the country, creating an educated and conscious generation is a must,” said Mr. Safowat.

A theatre performance was also organized as part of the programme which carried a message that parents and elders should encourage their women and children to take part in the elections.

In central Bamyan province, some 100 university students, civil society members and government officials gathered to listen to a television debate, co-organized by UNAMA and the Coordination Center for Journalists, on Sunday.

In their discussion, a six-member panel of experts highlighted the role that youth, women and civil society can play for bringing peace to Afghanistan.

“Respect to the rights of others is the first condition for peace; we should learn to respect others, their way of living, their way of thinking and how they express their thoughts,” said the head of the Bamyan Provincial Peace Council, Sadiq Aliyarzada.

A youth group representative at the discussions, Abdullah Shayagan, said education is the only way for peace and development in Afghanistan.

A women’s rights activist, Taeba Khawari, called on the women of Afghanistan to actively participate in the voter registration process and upcoming elections to prove they make half of Afghanistan’s population and their votes have the power to make a difference.