This year marks 57 years since the tragic death of the former Secretary-General of the United Nations – Dag Hammarskjöld. It was 18 September 1961, during a UN mission trying to negotiate peace in the Congo, that the airplane Hammarskjöld, and 16 other passengers and crew travelled in, crashed near Ndola airport in Zambia. To celebrate Hammarskjöld’s memory a week of activities will take place in Zambia. The Embassy of Sweden, Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, United Nation Information Centre (UNIC) and the Copperbelt University are some of the actors behind the events taking place.
Dag Hammarskjöld is considered one of the most prominent actors in peacebuilding and peacekeeping of our time. He was a devoted civil servant that is remembered as a leader with courage to act according to his convictions. Hammarskjöld believed in everyone’s right to make their voice heard and to make a difference. He argued that dialogue, cooperation, solidarity and respect for diversity is fundamental for sustainable peace – a message that remains highly relevant today.
The events during the commemoration week will build on these principles and values that Hammarskjöld represents - namely the understanding that it is only by embracing different interests and actors that lasting conflict resolution and peacebuilding can be achieved. The activities in Zambia will address how to make peace processes more inclusive, both internationally and locally. For instance, the role of local communities, youth and women in creating peaceful societies and promoting constructive dialogues will be discussed.
The week will offer several events in Hammarskjöld’s memory. A two-day workshop will be organized by Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and the Global Platform. The workshop aims to facilitate dialogue on what is needed to more meaningfully engage young people in peace and development efforts in Zambia. Also, the Embassy of Sweden and UNIC will host a Community Educational Outreach event in Garden Compound in Lusaka to engage local communities in peacebuilding. In Ndola and Kitwe lectures on Dag Hammarskjöld will be offered at the Copperbelt University and UNIC is organizing a school debate addressing youth in peace processes. The annual commemoration ceremony at the crash site in Ndola will take place on Friday 21st of September and will gather both official representatives and members of civil society.
Follow Embassy of Sweden in Lusaka on Facebook (Embassy of Sweden in Lusaka) and Twitter (@SwedeninZM) for updates during the week.
