UAE joins the world in celebrating the International Day of Peace

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The United Arab Emirates has announced its intention to join the global community in commemorating the International Day of Peace, an annual event observed on Sept.21.

The UAE has a distinguished history of advocating for global peace and stability, and has played a pivotal role in launching development initiatives that promote the progress and prosperity of peoples.

This year, the occasion coincides with the UAE moving up 31 places on the Global Peace Index, released in June by the Institute for Economics and Peace in Sydney.

In 2024, the UAE continued to pursue a diplomatic approach that prioritised peace, utilising its capabilities to facilitate dialogue, mitigate global conflicts and provide assistance to those affected by crises in various regions.

The UAE reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the promotion of peace and justice, the safeguarding of the rights of the Palestinian people, the achievement of a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state. This is to be done in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and relevant agreements, with the objective of ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The UAE has also emphasised that the establishment of stability and security in the Palestinian territories and the wider region is contingent upon the immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the release of all prisoners and hostages. Furthermore, the UAE has expressed its support for the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly last Wednesday, which calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories within a year.

In May of last year, the UAE presented a draft resolution to the United Nations General Assembly, proposing that the State of Palestine be granted full membership status. The General Assembly voted in favour of accepting the resolution by an overwhelming majority, marking a historic step towards peace and the realisation of a two-state solution.

The UAE has consistently demonstrated its commitment to promoting peace initiatives in Sudan. On 17 April, the UAE pledged $100 million in support of humanitarian efforts in Sudan and neighbouring countries during its participation in the meetings of the International Humanitarian Conference on Sudan held in the French capital, Paris.

In June, the UAE submitted a letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in which it called for immediate action to avert an impending famine in Sudan. The letter also affirmed the UAE's support for all initiatives aimed at achieving a ceasefire and a return to a legitimate government that represents all Sudanese people.

In September, the UAE announced the launch of new humanitarian initiatives in Chad and a contribution of $10.25 million to the United Nations, earmarked for the support of Sudanese refugee women affected by the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

In a related context, on 25 July, the UAE welcomed the statement of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Yemen on reaching an agreement between the Yemeni parties on airlines and the banking sector. The UAE considered this agreement to be a positive step on the road to a political solution that would achieve the aspirations of its brotherly people for security, development and stability.

In the course of this year, the UAE has facilitated eight prisoner-of-war exchanges between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. This brings the total number of prisoners exchanged between the two countries as a result of the UAE's mediation efforts to 1994.

The UAE reaffirmed its stance of advocating for diplomatic negotiations, constructive dialogue, and the prevention of further escalation of the crisis. The country's support is extended to initiatives that aim to alleviate the humanitarian impact of the crisis, including those pertaining to refugees and prisoners.

In a separate initiative, the General Women's Union commenced the fourth phase of the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Women in Peace and Security Programme in June, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and in coordination with the UN Women Liaison Office in Abu Dhabi.

The initiative's training programme is designed to enhance the capabilities of women in the domain of peace and security. It seeks to facilitate the formation of networks among women engaged in military and peacekeeping operations, to expand the representation of women in the military and peacekeeping sector, and to optimise the operational efficacy of peacekeeping forces.