International Day of Peace 2022 – History and Meaning

Every year on September 21, the world gathers to celebrate the International Day of Peace. The day is observed around the world to promote the concept of peace and to call on nations to observe 24-hour non-violence and ceasefires even in times of conflict. This International Day is one of the most important international days established by the United Nations (UN) to help the world achieve international peace and cooperation.

The United Nations was established on October 24, 1945, just seven weeks after Japan’s surrender in World War II. Founded at the end of global wars and witnessing countless atrocities and crimes, this international organization focuses on promoting global peace and cooperation. While the United Nations was not the first of its kind — the disastrously failed League of Nations was created after World War I — it did enjoy greater acceptance by member states.

In 1981, all UN member states unanimously passed a resolution declaring September 21 as the “International Day of Peace”, which is evident. The day called for a temporary ceasefire in war zones to allow humanitarian aid to enter.

In the 20th century alone, wars and conflicts caused more than 108 million casualties, making world peace more necessary than ever. With the advent of modern weapons of destruction and nuclear weapons, the world can hardly risk a war of scale.

Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine attests to this fact. Millions of Ukrainians were displaced, thousands lost their lives, and thousands of soldiers were killed and wounded on both sides. Other bitter conflicts in Yemen and Ethiopia have similar stories to tell.

Peace is only possible in societies where every group feels that they are equally respected and have an equal chance of success, so the theme for the 2022 International Day of Peace has been “End Racism”. Build peace.