The African Youth Initiative Network and the Uganda Victims Foundation convened, on Thursday 20 May at 12.00, in Kampala, a press conference to present the initiative “War Victims Day Football Game” to be held on Sunday 30 May 2010 at the Nambole National Stadium in Kampala, on the eve of the Review Conference for the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The event, which is being organised by the Uganda Victims Foundation and the African Youth Initiative Network with organisational support and technical expertise from the international NGO, No Peace Without Justice, aims at celebrating the international community’s commitment to end impunity and to promote victim’s rights through an effective international criminal justice system,contributing to the recognition of victims, and those organisations who support them on a daily basis, as active stakeholders in the ICC Review Conference process.
The football game will be attended by H.E. President Museveni and H.E. BAN Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations. The football players will include: victims from countries where the ICC are investigating war crimes, the President of the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC, ICC Review Conference Delegates and Ugandan National Team football players.
All members of the public are invited to attend the football game on Sunday 30 May 2010. The opening ceremony of the football event is at 3:00pm. Entry to the stadium is free of charge and the doors to the stadium will open at 10:00am. The public are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment. There will be musical entertainment and a curtain raiser football game involving youth football teams before the opening ceremony.
The event is being organised by the Uganda Victims Foundation and the African Youth Initiative Network with organisational support and technical expertise from the international NGO, No Peace Without Justice.
The media should register for accreditation to the event by contacting the Uganda Media Centre at emma@mediacentre.go.ug. The Director of AYINET, Mr Victor Ochen, is available for media interviews and can be contacted on +256 (0)772539879.
The global impact of football and sports as a way to come together cannot be overestimated and we are confident that the event will represent a global call for action to support war victims in the longer-term. We urge everyone who is supportive of victims regaining their lives to show their support by coming to watch the game or donating generously. Corporate sponsorship for the event is also welcomed please contact the organisers at +256 (0)787638623.
Download the press release
For further information, contact Alison Smith on asmith@npwj.org or +32-548 39 12 or Nicola Giovannini on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32-2-548-39 15.
