According to a statement by the United Nations (UN), the observance is a call to action that recognises our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace. Fostering peace, says the UN, contributes to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and achieving the SDGs will create a culture of peace for all.
In his statement marking this year’s observance, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Peace is needed today more than ever. War and conflict are unleashing devastation, poverty, and hunger, and driving tens of millions of people from their homes. Climate chaos is all around. And even peaceful countries are gripped by gaping inequalities and political polarisation.”
According to political expert sources, peace means societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. Social experts have said that peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups.
Psychologists have also written about the subject. Many have said that having “inner peace” always comes before one can behave in a peaceful manner. As such – to have a peaceful world – leaders must have peaceful psychological qualities including tranquility, forbearance, respect for others, empathy, compassion, kindness, self-control, courage, moderation, forgiveness, good temper, and caution.
Unfortunately, the world in September 2023 is not at all peaceful. According to various sources, there are between 27 and 32 major armed conflicts currently ongoing. Of those conflicts, at least 6 of them have claimed more than 10,000 human lives in the last year.
The UN General Assembly, in a resolution, established International Day of Peace in 1981, to be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace. The date initially chosen was the regular opening day of the annual sessions of the General Assembly, that is, the third Tuesday of September. This was changed in 2001 to the current annual celebration on September 21, each year.
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