To commemorate United Nations International Day of Peace on 21 September, the NT Branch of the Australian Federation of University Women (AFUW) has donated books about peace to Charles Darwin University in the hope that there will be interest in studying peace and conflict resolution.
The donated books are Passion for Peace: Exercising Power Creatively, by Stuart Rees, and New Nation: United Nations Peace-Building in East Timor, by Geoffrey C Gunn and Reyko Huang.
The UN International Day of Peace is observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day. The Day also commemorates and strengthens the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.
The UN states that for peace and non-violence to prevail, we need to:
- Foster a culture of peace through education
- Promote sustainable economic and social development
- Promote respect for all human rights
- Ensure equality between women and men
- Foster democratic participation
- Advance understanding, tolerance and solidarity
- Support participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge
- Promote international peace and security.
The AFUW is a member of the International Federation of University Women (IFUW) which has NGO member status with United Nations.
IFUW was formed in 1919, a graduate women's response to the aftermath of World War I to promote peace, understanding and friendship among the women of the world regardless of race, religion and nationality and to promote the advancement of women and their equal opportunity.
The primary actvities of AFUW (NT) is fund-raising for scholarships to support women tertiary students in the NT and now at the National University of East Timor. Membership of AFUW is open to all women who hold an undergraduate degree or its equivalent from a university. Women graduates who support the purpose and objectives of the organisation are welcomed as members.
If you want to know more about AFUW-NT visit these websites: www.afuw-nt.org.au and www.ifuw.org. If you are interested in joining AFUW-NT please call 8981 3448 (AH), or write to Box 714, PO Parap NT 0804.