UNITED NATIONS: Ahead of the International Day of Peace, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed that each of the new global sustainable development goals adopted a year ago by 193 countries are the “building blocks” for peace.
The secretary-general said that every year on that day, the United Nations calls on warring parties around the world to observe a 24-hour ceasefire. “But peace is not just about putting weapons aside. It is about building societies where people share benefits of prosperity on a healthy planet,” Ban said in his message for the day observed annually on September 21.
The UN system is marking the day early this year, with a host of events that kicked off Friday in the Peace Garden at UN Headquarters, where Ban rang the ‘Peace Bell’ and observed a minute of silence. Nobel Peace Prize laureates and the United Nations messengers of peace were present at the ceremony.
Ban sounded a call for peace and a day of non-violence before proceeding to ring the bell. “You know best of all that peace is not an accident. Peace is not a gift. Peace is something we must all work for, every day, in every country,” he said. While welcoming ceasefires, like the Cessation of Hostilities in Syria, the UN chief stressed that peace is about far more than putting weapons aside and that it involves the hard work of mediation, conflict resolution through diplomacy, reconciliation, peace building and sustaining peace.
He said he looked forward to visiting Cartagena and Colombia on September 26 for the signing of the historic peace agreement, which ended the 50-year war between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army. In addition, the UN Education Outreach Section will hold a global student videoconference, also at the headquarters.
The Education Outreach Section invited young people from around the world to submit videos on how the sustainable development goals can build peace.
In his message ahead of the peace day, the secretary-general said the theme of this year’s observance highlights the 17 sustainable development goals as building blocks for peace. “Sustainable development is essential for lasting peace and both depend on respect for human rights. All of us can be sustainable development advocates,” he said.
“On this International Day of Peace, express your commitment to peace by becoming a champion for the SDGs,” he added.
The day was first celebrated in 1981 by the UN General Assembly. Two decades later in 2001, the assembly unanimously voted to designate the day as a period of non-violence and ceasefire. The UN 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.
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