October 3, 2024
The International Day of Peace

António Guterres, the General Secretary of the UN rings the Peace Bell in the 2018 Peace Day celebration (UN Photo).
The International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day, is observed annually on September 21st. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981, and celebrated for the first time in 1982, this day is dedicated to promoting peace and the cessation of conflict worldwide. It serves as a reminder for all of humanity to commit to mutual understanding above all differences and to contribute to building a culture of peace. It is also a sign that despite conflicts and wars, there is always hope for sustainable peace in the world.
The date initially chosen was the regular opening day of the annual sessions of the General Assembly, the third Tuesday of September. This would remain unchanged until 2001, when it was fixed on September 21, after the 9/11 attacks in New York city, just blocks away from the United Nations general headquarters. It is just there that the Peace Bell is annually rung by the General Secretary of this institution to mark the date. The bell was a gift for the UN from Japan; in 1954 it was made of melted coins donated by children from all over the world. It stands as a symbol of world peace and unity between nations.
How could YOU celebrate Peace Day in the coming years? How could YOU make every day a chance to promote peace?
In subsequent years, the celebration has broadened its meaning and scope. From 1983, an annual report, called the “We the Peoples” initiative, is published and presented to the UN General Secretary. It contains summaries of all peace-related activities in the world every year. Similarly, in 1996 there was a proposal to include the concept of reconciliation as part of the same celebration although it was not officially recognized until 2009. On that occasion, a great number of white doves were distributed among all those who participated in Peace Day celebration at the UN facilities.
Several UN General Secretaries have been sending messages of peace and reconciliation on this date, according to the situation the world has been going through. For example, in 2005, Kofi Annan called for the worldwide observance of a 22-hour ceasefire and day of nonviolence to highlight the date. In 2007, Ban Ki-Moon rang the Peace Bell calling for a 24-hour cessation of hostilities and for a minute of silence to be observed around the world. In 2020, the emphasis was to remind the world that humans are not supposed to consider each other as enemies; instead, they were all called to get together and fight a common enemy, the tireless virus that was threatening people’s health, COVID-19. On that year, a survey by the Culture of Peace News Network found reports about over 717 celebrations of the International Day of Peace from 78 countries, a remarkable increase in comparison to previous years.
In 2024, the celebration of the International Peace Day adopted the motto “Cultivating a Culture of Peace”. However, it was certainly tarnished by ongoing wars and armed conflicts around the world. From people being killed randomly by gangs in Mexico, Ecuador or Haiti, to the bombings in Ukraine and the war between Israel and Palestine, it looks as if the celebration had become meaningless. However, the International Day of Peace still aims to strengthen the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples. It encourages individuals, communities, and nations to get engaged in activities that promote peace and non-violence. Over the years, the observance has grown to include a wide range of initiatives, from grassroots movements to international campaigns, all working towards a more peaceful world. How could YOU celebrate Peace Day in the coming years? How could YOU make every day a chance to promote peace?
Written by: Nahum Del Rio Bazan and Nicolas Dousdebes
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