Yaoundé, Cameroon - The UN International Day of Peace in Cameroon was celebrated at the conference hall of the “Hôtel des Deputés.” Scheduled to start at 12:00 noon, the event was delayed because of sudden heavy rain that fell on the capital city. At 1:00 pm the master of ceremonies, Mr. Ronald Fusi Atoh, launched the program with a minute of silence. Then the National Anthem was sung, followed by a prayer.

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The floor was given to Mrs. Anne Nsang Nkwain, Director of the United Nations Information Centre, representing the UN Secretary-General. She gave a briefing on the UN International Day of Peace, which people appreciated. She explained the motto of the year and discussed the problems of disarmament and nuclear weapons around the world.

After her briefing and before the Secretary-General’s message was read, people turned the celebration into a debate, during which some expressed their disappointment with the United Nations, “because of the weakness and incapacity of the organization to solve human problems and bring security to the world.” Mrs. Nsang assured the audience saying that the UN is making every possible effort to establish a world of peace, free of nuclear arms.

The UN representative then read the Secretary-General’s declaration and then gave the floor to the the Secretary General of UPF-Cameroon. People were moved by his presentation, and many of the journalists who attended the celebration did interviews or planned future programs with UPF on their radio or televisions programs, for further discussion on the topic.

The event ended with the audience singing a song entitled “Peace Is Not a Word, It Is a Behavior,” composed by Mr. Benoit Lihinag Tham, UPF Secretary General for the East and Adamaoua Regions of Cameroon. After that, participants enjoyed peaceful interchanges around snacks.

To read UPF's Declaration on the International Day of Peace 2009, click here.