International Day of Peace, Background & Theme of 2024
Important Day
3 min read
The world observes 21 September every year as International Peace Day. The Day is observed by humanity to promote a culture of peace, advocate a halt to hostilities and conflict around the world and resolve disputes and differences through dialogue and peace education.
In many parts of the globe, the day is marked by a minute of silence, peace education events, intercultural dialogues and other activities that improve understanding and cooperation between cultures.
The Day emphasises the idea that peace and a culture of peace need to be cultivated in the minds of children and communities through formal and informal education across countries and generations.
Background to the International Peace Day
In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to observe the third Tuesday of September, which is also the opening day of the Annual Session of the United Nations General Assembly session, as International Peace Day.
In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to observe 21 September every year as the International Day of Peace. The resolution expanded the concept of International Peace Day and added that it shall be observed as a Day of non-violence, and a global ceasefire shall be observed in conflict areas for the duration of the Day.
Thus, since 2001, International Peace Day has been observed on 21 September.
Theme of the International Peace Day 2024
Every year, the United Nations chooses a theme to highlight a particular issue or event.
This year, the United Nations has chosen Cultivating a Culture of Peace as International Peace Day's theme.
The theme has been chosen to mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace by the United Nations General Assembly.
The declaration supports the notion that wars begin in the minds of men, so it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”
Thus, the declaration supports the cultivation of a mindset of peace in the world.It encourages dialogue to solve conflicts in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.
