Harnessing what is quickly becoming one of the most-used modes of communication around the world, a text messaging for peace campaign was launched today to bring visibility to the International Day of Peace, celebrated annually on 21 September.

The 2008 forum will facilitate an examination of topics such as: potential of new media as a means of encouraging cultural engagement and interaction, issues of education as it fits into the digital world, where the world of digital technology is going, how universities might participate in the creation of a global peace network.

Location(s)

See map: Google Maps

As 2008 gets underway we don't have peace. (Just look at this depressing list in Wikipedia of ongoing conflicts worldwide.) But Daniel Stauffacher doesn't get depressed. Instead he thinks technology can help. This entrepreneur and Swiss diplomat leads a recently-formed group called the ICT for Peace Foundation, which aims to promote the latest digital and Internet tools for the people who truly need them most.

Egypt's "Cyber Peace Initiative" gained the appraisal and recognition of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) world experts at the "Youth and ICT as Agents for Change" forum held from September 24 – 26 in Geneva.

Egypt's First Lady Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak contributed to discussions of the international event by presenting 12 issues related to the "Cyber Peace Initiative" like ICT in education and health as well as the development wheel driven by the Egyptian youth.

The Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement is a non-profit, non-governmental international association established in 2003. It focuses on the positive and holistic aspects of peace, helping to forge alternative communication networks, developing capacities, creating avenues for cooperative action and making silent voices heard!

The U.N. refugee agency is alerting more than 33,000 vulnerable Iraqi refugees in Damascus through text messages on cell phones, which many of them use to keep in touch with family and friends.

The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees started a new food distribution program in Syria by sending 10,000 text messages to those eligible, U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said on Friday.

The ICT4Peace project's overview of such a broad field is unprecedented. Political leverage was gained by exposure and examination through the WSIS process. The WSIS process was invaluable in building a wider network of contacts and creating exposure for these activities. Looking at peace and conflict issues through the prism of ICT, we identified several areas where the leadership, expertise and advocacy provided by the project should continue to be helpful.

At the GAID launching meeting the inclusion of ICT4Peace as area of work under the focus area of governance was accepted.

Inaugural Meeting of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development
Kuala Lumpur, 19-20 June 2006
Hosted by the Government of Malaysia

Background Documentation

Principles and Elements of a Global Alliance for ICT and Development

The ICT for Peace Foundation, www.ict4peace.org