Port-au-Prince, 30th May 2016: The International Day of UN Peacekeepers was marked with a free public ‘Concert for Peace’ in Gonaïves on Sunday, 29th May, attended by Sandra Honoré, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Haiti and Head of MINUSTAH.

 Up to 3000 Gonaïviens, the majority of them young people, braved the rain and applauded the performances of BélO, the Haitian singing star, who has become a veritable ‘Artist for Peace’ - and the traditional group Chouk Bwa Libeté, natives of Gonaïves .  Four rara troupe kicked-off proceedings with a street parade around the city, the capital of Artibonite, and a place chosen to pay homage to the heroes of yesterday and those of today and to celebrate the theme of International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2016 – ‘Honouring Our Heroes.’

 The evening’s finale was a performance by Atis Vwa Ayiti Pou Lape – all young singer/songwriters from popular areas in Gonaïves and Hinche singing self-penned songs – who also took part in the Vwa Ayiti Pou Lapè nationwide tour and workshops in 2015 (this last initiative was conceived - with MINUSTAH backing - by James Germain, and featured Germain, Emeline Michel and Beethova Obas sharing their artistic expertise and imparting messages of peace to over 200 beneficiaries).

On leaving last night’s stage with a wide smile on his face, BélO said that he was delighted to take part in the Gonaïves concert: “Through my music, I choose peace. I want respect and dialogue, not contempt and brutality. Like so many musicians and artists around the world, I deploy songs in the name of reconciliation and harmony.”

 At the opening of the concert,Sandra Honoré complimented the engagement for peace of the young people of Gonaives: “Peace is the only way for this country to advance economically and socially […] The United Nations Mission in Haiti continues to urge all parties in Haiti - political leaders, civil society, religious and community leaders to work tirelessly against violence in all its forms […] This is the only way forward – towards mutual respect and particularly towards the reinforcement of democracy through elections.”

Closing her speech, the MINUSTAH Chief thanked the cultural association Tamise and Artist for Peace James Germain for conceiving and mounting the concert project.

She thanked also the Alliance Française of Gonaïves, partners - with MINUSTAH and the Association pour la Promotion des Arts - in a drawing competition to promote peace in primary schools in Artibonite; the children’s work was exhibited on the backdrop for the concert. Sandra Honoré also extended her thanks to the PNH and the Haitian Red Cross for their support, as well as conveying thanks to UN colleagues - civilian, police and military - for their service to the community.

The Gonaïves concert will be broadcast on MINUSTAH FM this evening (Monday, 30th May) and on radio stations across Haiti, including local stations in Artibonite

With strategic partners Tamise and James Germain, a compilation CD of the peace songs created during the ’Vwa Ayiti pou Lapè tour and workshops (and performed at the Gonaïves concert yesterday) will be launched by MINUSTAH on September 21st on the occasion of International Peace Day. Copies of the CD will be distributed as a pedagogical tool, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, UNESCO and the Institut Français, to music schools and cultural institutions working in the field of youth empowerment in Haiti. 

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was established to honour the memory of Peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace – honouring also all the men and women who have served - and continue to serve - in United Nations Peacekeeping operations around the world.

 The Concert for Peace in Gonaïves was the continuation of the campaign ‘Ann Chwazi Lapè – Vyolans ap detwi lavi nou’ - launched in 2013 by the Office of Communications and Public Information and the Community Violence Reduction unit of MINUSTAH, which develops a culture of peace, non-violence and community cohesion, particularly among young people in vulnerable neighbourhoods.