Young scouts march through Murcia for peace

Murcia hosted a march on May 16 to mark the International Day of Living Together in Peace, with youth scout groups from Catholic, Muslim and secular organizations crossing the city center together. The event was organized by the Federación Scout de Exploradores de Murcia, known as ASDE, Scouts Católicos de Murcia, known as MSC, and Scouts Musulmanes de España, in collaboration with Murcia’s city government. City authorities said the march drew hundreds of participants. Organizers framed the event around peace, tolerance, solidarity and coexistence. ### Which groups took part in the Murcia march? ASDE, MSC and Scouts Musulmanes de España were the named organizers of the event, according to Murcia city authorities and local reporting. The march brought together young people from different scout traditions in a joint public demonstration through central Murcia. Murcia’s city government said the initiative was designed to defend values including tolerance, respect, solidarity and equal coexistence. UNESCO says May 16 is the International Day of Living Together in Peace, a U.N.-recognized observance created to promote peace, inclusion, understanding and solidarity. ### How large was the turnout? (murciaplaza.com) Nearly 400 young scouts took part in the march, according to a Murcia city statement carried by local outlets ahead of and after the event. Murcia Plaza and the city government both described the turnout as “centenares,” or hundreds, rather than a smaller gathering. (unesco.org) The route began with an assembly at 6 p.m. and moved through Avenida Gran Vía Salzillo before ending around 7 p.m. at Glorieta de España, according to the city statement and pre-event notices. At the end of the march, members of the participating scout associations read a manifesto. (murciaplaza.com) ### What happened during the march itself? Participants wore white clothing as a symbol of peace and unity, according to advance event details published by local outlets. A banner at the front of the procession carried the slogan marking the May 16 observance. Murcia city authorities said one of the central moments came on Gran Vía, where marchers formed the word “PAZ,” the Spanish word for peace. (murcia.com) The symbolic action took place before the closing manifesto at Glorieta de España. ### Why was May 16 the chosen date? UNESCO says the International Day of Living Together in Peace is observed each year on May 16 after the U.N. (murcia.com) General Assembly established it in a 2017 resolution. The day is intended to encourage listening, respect and appreciation across differences, according to UNESCO’s description of the observance. (murcia.es) The Murcia march was scheduled specifically around that international date. Local organizers said in pre-event notices that the goal was to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion and solidarity in the region. ### What did organizers and officials say they wanted from the event? (unesco.org) Murcia’s city government said the march was meant to send a collective message of peace, coexistence and youth participation. Local coverage said organizers also presented the event as a way to encourage dialogue among communities and strengthen shared civic life in Murcia. (diocesisdecartagena.org) Scouting groups in the region tied the event to broader educational goals. ASDE’s federation website describes scouting as training young people through action, teamwork and service, with an emphasis on respect, solidarity and community commitment. ### What comes next after this year’s march? May 16 remains the fixed annual date for the International Day of Living Together in Peace, according to UNESCO. (murcia.es) That means the next edition of the observance will fall on May 16, 2027, providing the next clear milestone for groups such as ASDE, MSC and Scouts Musulmanes de España if they choose to repeat the event in Murcia. (unesco.org) (exmu.es)