Each year the International Day of Peace or World Peace Day is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, by observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.
Achieving peace in the world, or a state, or even within people is such a difficult task– yet a doable one. Putting down arms does not suffice for true and long-lasting peace. To Achieve peace, peoples need to have a broader perspective aligned with long-term goals. As the UN highlights, “It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race.”
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.
2022 Theme: End racism. Build Peace
The day is observed around the world on 21 September. The theme for this year, according to the UN is ‘End Racism. Build Peace’. Across the globe, there will be multiple programs and educational seminars on the eve of World Peace Day 2022. Moreover, writers across the line and news editors will publish their thoughts on this day. All the work is to create awareness among people about how to develop a world free of racism and racial discrimination.
As Secretary-General António Guterres has said:
“Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and… the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”
Do you know?
The Peace Bell was donated by the United Nations Association of Japan in 1954. It has become a tradition to ring the bell twice a year: on the first day of spring, at the Vernal Equinox, and on 21 September to celebrate the International Day for Peace.
‘If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.’ Mother Teresa.
Earlier, COVID hit the communities, due to which, it was visible how certain racial groups have been hit harder, now conflicts amongst states have led people to flee borders and rising ace-based discrimination at borders. The hate speech and violence directed at racial minorities due to the economic crisis is another looming crisis for the world to curtail.
As the theme for the year 2022 is to ‘End Violence. Build Peace.’ we all have a role to play in fostering peace. And tackling racism is a crucial way to contribute.
