International Day of Peace (21/09)

Every year on September 21, the international community celebrates the International Day of Peace. The UN General Assembly declared this Day a day to strengthen the ideals of peace among all countries and peoples — both nationally and internationally.

In 1981, by its resolution 36/67, the General Assembly proclaimed a Day of Peace and established its celebration on the third Tuesday of September, and 20 years later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 55/282, in which it decided that from 2002 the International Day of Peace will be celebrated annually on September 21 as a day of general ceasefire and renunciation of violence.

For most people on planet Earth, the world — is an everyday reality. The city streets are calm, children go to school and kindergarten... Where the foundations of society are strong, the priceless gift of peace may not be noticed by anyone in particular. However, for too many people in the modern world, this gift — is nothing more than a fabulous dream. They live in shackles, in an atmosphere of instability and fear.

Moreover, achieving true peace requires not only a cessation of hostilities. It is necessary to build a society with equal opportunities for all people. This involves creating a world with the same treatment for all people, regardless of their race and religion.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of collective efforts to help everyone rebuild and create a more equitable, just, inclusive and sustainable world. The pandemic was accompanied by a surge of stigma, discrimination and hatred that led to loss of life. Faced with this common enemy of humanity, people must remember that they are not enemies of each other.

In general, the events of recent years — war, terrorism, military spending, deep contradictions separating peoples and individuals around the world, the climate crisis, viruses, have determined the unprecedented relevance of the International Day of Peace today.

Therefore, today's holiday, established by the UN in 1981, covers millions of people, many countries and regions where various actions and events are held by public and youth organizations. After all, the Day is intended to make people not only think about the world, but also do something for its sake.

The UN invites all countries and peoples to cease all hostilities on this Day and celebrate this Day by holding educational and public information events on peace issues. It also uses the celebration of the International Day of Peace to highlight its diverse work in support of peace and to encourage individuals, groups and communities around the planet to understand the challenges of peace, share information and practical experiences in achieving it.

Thus, every year UN events dedicated to the Day traditionally begin with a ceremony at the Peace Bell at the UN headquarters in New York — first an address from the UN Secretary General is heard, after which he strikes the bell, then, after a minute of silence, the Chairman makes an address UN Security Council.

Each year, Peace Day is dedicated to a specific theme. So, over the years it was held under the mottos: «Human rights and peacekeeping», «Disarmament and non-proliferation», «Youth for peace and development», «Peace and democracy: express your opinion», «Sustainable world for a sustainable future», «Education for peace», «Right of peoples for peace», «Goals for sustainable development: building blocks of peace», «Together for peace: respect, security and dignity for all», «Right to peace: 70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights», «Combating climate change for peace», «Shaping the world together», «Better than it was recovery to create a just and sustainable world», «End racism. Build a world», «Action for the world», etc.



Postcard «September 21 — International Peace Day»

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