Maman S. Sidikou, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, welcomes the commitment to peace and development of the 483 United Nations volunteers in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Kinshasa, 5 December 2015 – “I welcome the commitment and professionalism of United Nations volunteers who, within MONUSCO and United Nations agencies, demonstrate great creativity and a high sense of solidarity in the promotion of peace and development in the DRC,” stated Maman S. Sidikou, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in the DRC and Head of MONUSCO, on the occasion of the celebration of the International Volunteer Day on 5 December.

The International Volunteer Day 2015, whose theme is “Your world is changing. Are you? Volunteer!”, is an opportunity for United Nations volunteers to organize activities across the different provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in partnership with associations and local NGOs.

Through these activities, the 483 United Nations volunteers in the DRC demonstrate the values they embody and their dedication to the cause of peace within the many field offices of MONUSCO and United Nations agencies.

“On this celebration day, I commend the efforts of the thousands of volunteers who offer their time, energy and skills to allow the United Nations to reach out to vulnerable populations in order to achieve the global social and economic development goals. I particularly encourage the youth of the DRC to volunteer, for this is an opportunity for citizens to enrich their experience through human contact and also to participate actively in the nation’s life in its many different aspects,” concluded Maman S. Sidikou, Head of MONUSCO.

Notes to Editors:

· The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide.

· In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is composed of nearly 500 international and national volunteers who provide support to MONUSCO and agencies of the United Nations system.

· The United Nations General Assembly, on 13 November 2015, adopted a resolution aimed at strengthening the integration of volunteering into peace and development policies and programmes, through a long-term cooperative and strategic approach, coinciding with the implementation period of the sustainable development goals.