The South Sudan Peace and Reconciliation Commission launched a 7-day peace activism campaign in the run up to the International Day of Peace due on 21^st September 2016. 

The drive will feature radio interactions, dialogues with academia, peace concerts, carnivals and public discussions. 

“This should be a time to turn the country’s negatives into positives, said Chuol Rambang Chairperson of the Peace and Reconciliation Commission.”

The Commission will work with civil society organisations and different peace actors to implement the community outreach activities.

Rambang says the campaign under the theme, “Together we can heal South Sudan,” will highlight the cost of conflict and tell the success stories of South Sudan.

“We are encouraging practical acts of peace, stop hate speech and stop talking negative,” he said. 

The initiative is part of a longer-term 100 day peace activism campaign to realise lasting and sustainable peace.

William Ongoro, a co-ordinator at the National Platform for Peace and Reconciliation told the UN Radio that the 100-day campaign is geared towards consolidating peace efforts and advocating for the full implementation of the peace agreement.

“We have forgotten we are one people,” he said.  “For the next 100 days let us speak the language of peace,” Ongoro added.

He laments that the country’s social cohesion has been broken by conflict and hatred, and says the time has come to “heal the wounds”

The peace activism campaign is being implemented with support from the UN Development Program – UNDP.