World Radio Day celebrates a 'unique instrument of peace'

• Published date: 13 February 2023
• Publication title: Africa Newswire

13 Feb 2023 (United Nations) From supporting forthcoming elections in South Sudan, to getting war-weary people to buy into peace processes; to ensuring high school girls in Afghanistan can keep learning even after they have been banned from classrooms: radio continues to be relevant in the digital era.

World Radio Day, observed annually on 13 February, celebrates the power of the medium. The theme this year is 'Radio and Peace', highlighting its role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

'Since it was developed about a century ago, radio has proven to be an exceptional means of communication, debate and exchange - indeed, it is one of the most accessible and widespread types of media,' said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In her message for the Day, she urged everyone 'not only to celebrate radio's potential, but also, and especially, to make greater use of radio as a unique instrument of peace.'

Radio and UN Peacekeeping

For Francesca Mold, Chief of Strategic Communications in the UN's Department of Peace Operations (DPO), this year's theme could not be more relevant.

DPO recently kicked off a year-long campaign to commemorate the 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping.

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