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The University for Peace celebrated Commencement 2012
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25 May 2012
Location: San José, Costa Rica.
• Mrs. Bineta Diop, Executive Director and founder of Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) was the keynote speaker
The United Nations-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE) held its 2012 Commencement ceremony this Friday at it´s Rodrigo Carazo Campus in El Rodeo de Mora, Ciudad Colón. This year 155 students from 51 countries attended one of the eleven Master’s Degrees UPEACE currently offers, all of which focus on peace and conflict studies. The group was comprised by 101 women and 54 men. The keynote speaker at the ceremony was Mrs. Bineta Diop, from Senegal, Executive Director and founder of Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) and the Pan African Centre for Gender, Peace and Development in Dakar, Senegal. Ms. Diop has been elected as Vice-President of the African Union Women’s Committee, and chairs the United Nations Working Group on Peace in Geneva. She also serves as member of the Group of International Advisors to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In her speech the African leader addressed the graduates saying: “I know that you have been trying to tackle the world’s challenges through your course work and that you recognize how difficult the world’s problems are. Let me tell you, it does not get much easier in the working world, it gets tougher. But I know that those of you who are graduating today are here because you have already seen something of the world that has spurred you to thinking: “I can do something. I can make this happen”. "There are so many people, especially young people like you, who are finding creative solutions to problems and devising successful strategies for transformative growth, in the form of sustainable economic growth and the creation of gainful employment opportunities; improved access to comprehensive education and health care; environmentally sound, sustainable agricultural practices and natural resource usage that respects the realities of climate change and adheres to the needs of climate justice. All these initiatives are needed, are happening, and are having a multiplier effect", said Diop.
The event was chaired by John J. Maresca, Rector of UPEACE, and it was attended by diplomats members of international organizations, academics and relatives of graduates among other special guests.
As part of the event, UPEACE awarded a “Doctor Honoris Causa in International Peace Studies” to Mrs. Diop, in recognition of her “work in promoting respect for the Rights of women, especially in Africa, and her global leadership role on gender issues."
The University for Peace signs agreement with the PanAfrican Center for Gender, Peace and Development
In her capacity as Director and founder of the PanAfrican Center for Gender, Peace and Development, Mrs. Diop signed a tripartite agreement between the Center, UPEACE and the University Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Dakar, to launch a Master of Gender and Peacebuilding within the Faculty of Law and Political Science at UCAD for teaching and training African men and women, based on the master's programme at the University for Peace in the same discipline.
For further information please contact Mariela Solís Chaves, Communications Officer at Tel. (506) 2205 9008 or by email at msolis@upeace.org
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University for Peace. All rights reserved 2012
