World peace day
"It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it."
— Eleanor Roosevelt
World Peace Day is celebrated worldwide to commemorate the end of wars and the people who have suffered endlessly due to the war. Peace reminds us of the damage that war can bring into this world and how it can affect everyone, causing distress and suffering that will carry on into the future.
World Peace Day is celebrated worldwide on the 21st of September and the year 2024 marks the 25th anniversary. This year's theme is chosen as “cultivating a culture of peace” which highlights the collaboration and respect for other cultures and people involved.
When we look at the history of World Peace Day, it was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. To inaugurate the day, the United Nations Peace Bell is rung at UN Headquarters (in New York City). The bell is cast from coins donated by people from all continents except Africa and was a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan, as "a reminder of the human cost of war"; the inscription on its side reads, "Long live absolute world peace”.
The United Nations General Assembly declared, in a resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom and Costa Rica, the International Day of Peace, to be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace. The date initially chosen was the regular opening day of the annual sessions of the General Assembly, the third Tuesday of September. (This was changed in 2001 to the current annual celebration on 21 September each year)
Throughout the years World Peace Day had different themes such as,
2021 – Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World,
2022 - End racism. Build peace.
2023 - Actions for peace: Our ambition for the #Global-Goals
2024 - cultivating a culture of peace
The year 2024 theme is designated to address the peace between different cultures of people around the world. With the globalization and popularity of social media, people around the world can get to know and learn about different unique cultures around the world and many people find it fascinating to learn about unique customs and festivities surrounded by those cultures. It became one of the main reasons to boost the tourism industry in many countries and foreigners had a deep appreciation and admiration of different cultural settings and their impact on people. Many people loved to get the hands-on experience of those cultures which was a unique and incredible opportunity to gain insight about diverse things that concreates the bond between people around the world. This year's theme tries to strengthen the bond between different cultures by emphasizing the similarities between different cultures to keep the peace and reduce fights due to differences in beliefs and traditions.
On International Peace Day, the United Nations asks for a 24-hour ceasefire of all hostilities around the world. It also asks people to observe one minute of silence at noon to honour victims of war and violence. As well as taking part in a one-minute silence at midday (local time), people in cities, towns and villages worldwide can get involved in many different events on this special day. This could be in the field of the arts, with photography, film, music or dance. It could be sports activities such as a football match for peace. Or it could be yoga, meditation and prayer. Children and teenagers also take part in a wide range of activities related to peace and unity, often focusing on preventing school violence and bullying.
The Secretary-General’s vision for centering the Organization’s work on peace and security around prevention and through a surge in diplomacy for peace reaffirms the United Nations' founding mission. Since its inception, the UN has played a crucial role in helping to mediate conflicts at all stages: before they escalate into armed conflict, after the outbreak of violence, and during the implementation of peace agreements. UN peacemaking flourished in the decade following the end of the Cold War and the Organization continues to play a preeminent role in this field. International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilise political will and resources to address global problems and to celebrate and reinforce the achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.
The International Day of Peace isn't just about ending international conflicts. It is also about changing our behaviour towards each other and our environment. For example, we can try to bring peace to our personal lives by saying sorry and making peace with someone we know. Individual actions add up to great things when they are multiplied by millions of people all over the planet, and we can all contribute to making the world a more peaceful place.