Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire by the Resolution A/RES/55/282 . 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 honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

FORUM: International Day of Peace 2020 “Shaping Peace Together.”

Each year, on 21 September, the United Nations calls on everyone, everywhere, to observe 24 hours of non-violence and ceasefire. Today, 100 days before the International Day of Peace, it is essential to remember that our common enemy is a virus that causes widespread suffering and risks reversing decades of human progress. That is why, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, I called on all warring parties to lay down their weapons. These are not normal times, and our responses cannot be routine. The pandemic is not just a health issue. It is having direct and troubling effects on development, peace and security. For the United Nations, 2020 was already meant to be a year of listening and learning. To mark the 75th anniversary of the UN, the UN Secretariat has invited millions of people worldwide to join UN75, the largest and furthest-reaching global conversation on building the peaceful and prosperous future that we want.

Statement by the U.N. Secretary-General on International Day of Peace 2020, September 21th.

The International Day of Peace is devoted to urging warring parties everywhere to lay down their weapons and work for harmony.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, this call is more important than ever. That is why I appealed for a global ceasefire in March.

Our world faces a common enemy: a deadly virus that is causing immense suffering, destroying livelihoods, contributing to international tensions and exacerbating already formidable peace and security challenges.

The focus of this year’s International Day of Peace is “Shaping Peace Together.”

In that spirit, and to mark our 75th anniversary, the United Nations is bringing people together for a global conversation about shaping our future and forging peace in trying times.

In these days of physical distancing, we may not be able to stand next to one another. But we must still stand together for peace.

And, together, I know we can — and will — build a more just, sustainable and equitable world.

António Guterres

UN Women Statement for International Day of Peace, 21 September 2020 .

Peace is a prerequisite for health, equality and human security. Our ability to live dignified, fulfilling lives depends on acting without fear, in mutual respect and co-existence. Today, as we mark International Day of Peace, some 2 billion people are living in areas affected by armed conflict. They struggle to survive through forced displacement, and collapsed economies and infrastructure. Profound, systemic inequality breeds tensions that can ignite different forms of conflict. In many regions of the world, the impacts of climate change are exacerbating conditions that threaten peace and security. And the devastating social and economic consequences of COVID-19 have coupled with discriminatory gender norms and unequal power dynamics to feed insecurity and fragility.

Today, UN Women calls on all warring parties to put down their guns and heed the UN Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire. We can stop this deadly virus from adding yet another layer of tragedy and we can cease the myriad aggressions that keep all people from living in peace.

Actions for peace and security must extend to many fronts. On a daily basis, we see attacks on women human rights defenders, stigmatization, xenophobia and a rise in all forms of violence against women and girls. The historic advances and disruption of patriarchal power achieved by women’s movements in the 25 years since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action have met sustained backlash.

The current pandemic reminds us how connected we are, and highlights the need to recognize and respect one another’s humanity. Women have been at the core of the COVID response, both within their homes as caretakers and in all facets of health services. This is no different in conflict zones where health provision tends to be politicized and women’s groups – often key actors working to prevent conflict – are trusted sources of information and care. It is women, embedded within communities, who are also preventing the spread of the virus.

Women have historically played an important role in the quest for peace. The women, peace and security agenda, which marks its 20th anniversary in this year of crisis, provides a framework for sustainable peace. The evidence is clear: having women at the peace table generates greater buy-in and strengthens accountability for implementation. Women’s participation also makes peace more durable because, with their input, agreements go beyond the realm of power to the realities of people.

UN Women stands with all the women, including young women, around the world upholding peace: from the mothers holding vigil for the disappeared, to the women marching against police brutality; from the women in refugee camps navigating a complex gender landscape, to those negotiating ceasefires all over the world. We salute the women of Afghanistan, who struggle to preserve their hard-gained rights and seek a seat at the peace table to determine their country’s future. We stand with the more than 100 women’s organizations throughout Iraq, Libya, Palestine, Syria and Yemen urgently calling for a COVID-19 truce, and contributing to long-term peace.

The future of our countries and communities belongs to all people. By crafting a COVID-19 response that is truly inclusive and rooted in the power of women-led peace, we have a transformative opportunity to build back better, into a more peaceful, sustainable and equitable world.

UN - Women.

Events

This year’s International Day of Peace Observance will be a virtual event under the theme “Shaping Peace Together”, to be held on 17 September 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT. The online Student Observance will begin with a dialogue between United Nations Messengers of Peace and young people around the world on the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire and the importance of coming together peacefully to turn the COVID-19 crises into an opportunity for peace and inclusivity. The Peace Bell Ceremony will follow, featuring the participation of the United Nations Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly and the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations. There will also be a performance by the Universal Hip Hop Museum.

Please follow the link to attend the virtual observance. For questions about the observance please email education-outreach@un.org.