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.

By Sapan News Desk

Humanitarian leader, author and Community Mayor of Harlem Dr Delois Blakely will deliver the keynote speech at an event organised 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 organisers, Peace Initiative Bhutan, are collaborating with organisations 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 organisation 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 organisers 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.

REGISTER

Several community-based, peace and interfaith organisations 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.