By KUNA
United Nations : The UN Delegations Women’s Club (UNDWC), an association of women delegates to the UN and spouses of diplomats, hosted Tuesday evening a unique cultural event in the General Assembly Hall in connection with its “Women for Peace” project to mark the International Women’s Day that was celebrated March 8th.
The event featured a special multi-cultural production that reflected the richness of diverse cultures and showed how differences among peoples can be overcome through song and dance.
The performers came from several countries including Palestine, Italy, South Africa, Tahiti, and Lithuania.
UNDWC was raising funds to provide scholarships for five women from five different continents to attend the University for Peace in Costa Rica. “The show is designed to highlight unity and solidarity in the celebration of peace and to invite the world community to join in the effort,” said Anna Birgis Hannesson, president of the UNDWC and wife of the Ambassador of Iceland to the UN.
The idea was shared by Ban Soon-taek, wife of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who said “International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the progress that women have made throughout history, and I am delighted to support the UN Delegations Women’s Club in its program to promote peace worldwide.” “Women for Peace” project, chaired by Helene Yousfi, the wife of the Algerian Ambassador to the UN Youssef Yousfi, is a diverse group of women from around the world joined together to build awareness of women’s quest for peace.
Mrs. Yousfi, who has had personal experience with war in Algeria and as a physician in Kosovo, said “in our role as ‘first ladies’ of the United Nations, we are obligated to contribute to the purpose of this great institution. It is tremendously gratifying to work with so many talented women from countries that have a dream of peace.”