Sideline events at this year’s UNGA include an issue that is often swept under the carpet, with the Peace Initiative Bhutan’s event ‘Voices of Resilience: Building Bridges for Peace in Bhutan’ taking place on 8 September.

Building Bridges for Peace in Bhutan at United Nations General Assembly
By Sapan News Desk

 

Humanitarian leader, author and Community Mayor of Harlem  Dr Delois Blakely  will deliver the keynote speech at an event organized by a Bhutanese-American peace activists at the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly on 8 September. 

• The  event , titled “Voices of Resilience: Building Bridges for Peace in Bhutan”, aims to provide a platform for exiled Bhutanese communities to share stories of resilience, from facing eviction to becoming refugees and finding hope to reconnect with their families and roots in Bhutan. 
• Also known as ‘Queen Mother’, Dr Blakely will be joined by a host of prominent thought leaders, peacebuilders, and advocates from the international community. 
• Speakers include UN Goodwill Ambassador to Africa, Hon Ambassador Deep Upadhyay, former Nepal ambassador to India Dr Dubem Daniel Gbuji, peace and climate activist; Sherrie Kazan, president of the World Council of People to the UN; and Guy Djoken, executive director of the UNESCO Center for Peace.
• 

The event organizers, Peace Initiative Bhutan, are collaborating with organizations like  Team54 Project  International that advocates for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and  1000 Shades of Women , which works to empower underprivileged women around the world.  

They hope that the participants will be able to engage in meaningful discussions to identify pathways for lasting peace and harmony in Bhutan, and that the event will contribute to promoting reconciliation and foster mutual understanding and trust among the Bhutanese people and government.

“We hope that the credibility and expertise of internationally acclaimed human-rights activists and peacebuilders will help amplify the impact and influence of our work,” says Peace Initiative founder Suraj Budathoki, based in New Hampshire.

As an organization committed to promoting peace and reconciliation, Peace Initiative Bhutan “aims to foster an atmosphere of trust, understanding, and collaboration among Bhutanese communities and the government of Bhutan.” 

On World Peace Day last September, the Peace Initiative Bhutan  held a rally  in front of the UN General Assembly to highlight these issues. 

Budathoki says that the organizers have invited “all stakeholders, including government representatives, community leaders, NGOs, UN bodies, and individuals passionate about peace in Bhutan” to join them “and be a part of this significant event”.

The “Voices of Resilience: Building Bridges for Peace in Bhutan” event will take place on 8 September 2023, from 10 am to 3 pm, at Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016. 

Those who want to join can register at  this link .

Several community-based, peace and interfaith organizations are supporting the event, including  Global Citizens Circle ,  Earthwise Center ,  Building Community of NH ,  Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh ,  House of Refuge, USA ,  GPK Foundation, USA ,  Kentucky Bhutanese Community ,  Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio ,  The Interfaith Council for Community Development ,  The World Yoga Community ,  Global Bhutanese Hindu Organization ,  International Alliance of Women  and the  Southasia Peace Action Network .

Lead image: Peace Initiative Bhutan activists at UNGA 2022. Photo courtesy: Suraj Budathoki

This is a  Sapan News  syndicated feature.