Assembly/AU/6(XVI) Page 3 society, faith-based organizations, educational institutions and the African media to the Make Peace Happen Campaign. This is a clear demonstration that the objective of the Make Peace Happen Campaign finds resonance at all levels of society. 10. At the AU Commission, a ceremony was organized to celebrate Peace Day. This ceremony was attended by Member States, AU partners and other stakeholders. It also involved an event jointly organized by the Commission and the Interfaith Peace building Initiative (IPI), which is affiliated to the United Nations and is a member of the United Religions Initiative. 11. I also delivered a message urging all Africans to do something to advance the cause of peace. In addition, the Commission published, in various print and electronic media, the attached OpEd (Annex I), in which I indicated that, while Africa had made some undeniable gains in the quest for peace, conflict still remains a painful reality in different parts of the continent. I stressed that “the activities of a single day can energize Africans from all walks of life, helping to generate a widespread grassroots peace movement across the continent. And that up-swelling of demand for peace, and actions to make peace happen, may indeed help fulfil our common promise of a conflictfree Africa”. In concluding, I emphasized that “September 21 will bring the call for peace out of the chambers of the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, and give voice to the most vulnerable, those who bear the brunt of violence and are often left scarred physically and emotionally. In turn, their cry for the prevention of violence, including that against women and children, for protection against such a threat, and for participation across the board in building a better society and, in particular, in peacemaking efforts, will echo back to those august Councils, and demand that the highest decision-makers make peace and security a reality, not only a slogan. The people’s cry for peace will convince those at war that the commitment to peace cannot be reversed, and that the guns must be permanently silenced, the refugee camps emptied by people voluntarily returning home, and the classrooms filled by children determined to learn and fulfil their limitless potential”. 12. Subsequently, the Commission received reports on the implementation of Peace Day activities from various actors. A table providing an account of the activities undertaken on Peace Day, as communicated to the Commission by Member States and other stakeholders, is attached herewith (Annex II). This table is not exhaustive. Indeed, through the media, the Commission came across reports of activities undertaken by some Member States, civil society organizations and other stakeholders. The Commission will update the table as it receives further formal notifications of activities undertaken on Peace Day. III. OTHER INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF THE YEAR OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN AFRICA 13. The period under review was also marked by efforts to further other aspects of the YoPS programme of activities, with particular focus on the following: