International Day of Peace

The global community is celebrating the International Day of Peace today. The day is observed on 21 September every year. The International Day of Peace was first celebrated in 1982. It is recognized by the United Nations. It has been declared by the United Nations General Assembly a day "devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples."

This day is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence. To inaugurate the day, the United Nations Peace Bell is rung at UN Headquarters in New York City. On this day special activities and celebrations are held all across the world. This day provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date.

According to the United Nations website, “Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace”.

Every year the day is given a theme. In 2019, the theme for International Peace Day is “Climate Action for Peace.” This brings a clear message: the global climate emergency is a threat to security and stability.

By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and invigorated people to work in cooperation for this goal. Since its inception, Peace Day has marked personal and terrestrial progress toward peace. It has grown to include millions of people worldwide and many events are organized each year to commemorate and celebrate this day.

International Peace Day has prompted millions over the years to reflect on the meaning of peace and how conflict affects the world’s people. It is a day to look beyond borders, religion, and race to connect with each other for a common goal.