Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.
Background
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
The United Nations invites all nations and people to honor a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.
Yearly Wise GlobalThemesforInternational Day of Peac
- 1981 – UN General Assembly Resolution passed
- 1982 – First observance
- 1983 – Culture of Peace initiative
- 1996 – Seanad Éireann debate
- 2001 – Date set at 21 September
- 2004 – Taiwanese commemorative stamp controversy
- 2005 – UN Secretary General calls for 22-hour ceasefire
- 2006 – Peace Parade, UK
- 2007 – UN Secretary General calls for worldwide moment of silence
- 2009 – International Year of Reconciliation announced
- 2011 – Peace and Democracy: Make Your Voice Heard
- 2012 – Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future
- 2013 – Focus on Peace education
- 2014 – Right to Peace
- 2015 – Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All
- 2016 – The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace
The Day’s theme for 2016 is “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.”
This 2016 year’s global theme for the International Day of Peace “the Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace” highlights how ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring broadly shared prosperity all contribute to global harmony. Building blocks for peace directly refers to the 16thSustainable Development Goal which specifically focuses on “Peace, Justice and strong governance Institutions”. But one might say that peace runs like a thread through all the 17 goals. The fact is that without peace, there would be no infrastructure development: no roads, no water and sanitation, no safe cities and neighborhoods, gender equality and women empowerment would be jeopardized while poverty and hunger will soar, affecting the well-being of the citizens. The experience from war-torn countries like Syria has shown us how conflicts negatively affect the education systems, completely destroy cities and communities and increase the likelihood of vulnerability to climate change and social inclusion.
Peace cannot be achieved through violence; it can only be attained through understanding