Join me, tomorrow, on the Barefoot Peace Walk to mark UN International Day of Peace

September 20 2010 , Written by thediversetraveller Published on #Africa Centre, #Barefoot Peace Walk, #Bussman Holiday, #Central East Africa, #Democratic Republic of Congo, #Human Rights Watch, #humanitarian crises, #international Refugee Trust, #Jane Bussman, #Joseph Kony, #London, #Recommendations & Rants (tips, links and reviews), #Sudan, #The Enough Project, #Travel Beyond the UK, #Uganda, #War child

The World's Most Wanted man, Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, has kidnapped somewhere between 20-60,000 children. On Tuesday 21 September, Londoners are demanding he be stopped.

To mark the UN International Day of Peace this Tuesday, the charity International Refugee Trust (IRT) is asking people to wear white and walk through central London to raise awareness of the grim reality affecting millions of people in Central East Africa in one of the world’s worst and most neglected humanitarian crises, which has seen over 70,000 civilians displaced in recent months.

In support of the walk, author and comedian Jane Bussmann will perform her award-winning, sell-out show, ‘Bussmann’s Holiday’ (directed by Emmy winner Sally Phillips), at a special free event to be held at the Africa Centre from 7.30pm.

Even if you can't take part in the walk, do come to Jane's show. I met and interviewed Jane last Monday, for Diverse Traveller, and throughly enjoyed her humourous and down-to-earth outlook on life.

Anneke van Woudenberg from Human Rights Watch, a leading expert on the crisis, will hold a Q & A session.

Why should we care?

Millions of innocent civilians have suffered over the past 24 years in the struggle between the rebel group known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government. The group originated in Northern Uganda but is now spread across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and South Sudan. The LRA is notorious for abducting children and forcing them to become soldiers and sexual slaves. The rebels target civilians, mutilating and killing on a horrific scale.

Human Rights Watch and The Enough Project report that the LRA is directly accountable for the deaths of 2,500 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 18 months, as well as the abduction of 700 people, one third of them children.

A 20-year old former LRA abductee, Juliet, visited London this July with the charity War Child to share her experiences with school students, politicians and the media. Juliet hand-delivered a personal letter to Downing Street, urging the Prime Minister “to find a way to release girls and children who are still in the bush… this is an international problem and I ask you to take international leadership to stop this injustice. “ An estimated 3,000 children are still held captive.

Barefoot Walk details

Date? Tuesday. September 21st, 2010

When? Meet at 6:00 pm to start walking at 6:30 pm, 21 September 2010 (UN International Day of Peace)

Where? Next to St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square

How long? 45 minute walk

*Walking barefoot is not compulsory.

And then? From 7:30 pm onwards after-event in the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden with guest speakers including Anneke van Woudenberg from Human Rights Watch, and Ugandan music.

It is not necessary to sign up or RSVP to the Barefoot Peace Walk, but if you happen to be on Facebook you can sign up for the event there.

Video: Al Jazeera's Mohammed Adow reports from Nzara in South Sudan, an area facing increasing attacks from LRA fighters.

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