Ahead of World Peace Day, UN chief says Global Goals are 'building blocks for peace'
Cheerful young students in their traditional dress proudly waive their national flags during the Peace Bell ceremony of the observance of the International Day of Peace at UN Headquarters in New York. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras (file photo)
16 September 2016 – 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.
Mr. Ban 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 the benefits of prosperity on a healthy planet,” Mr. Ban said in his message for the Day, observed annually on 21 September.
The UN system is marking the Day early this year, with a host of events that will kick off this morning in the Peace Garden at UN Headquarters, where Mr. Ban will ring the Peace Bell and observe a minute of silence.
Women Nobel Peace Prize laureates and the United Nations Messengers of Peace have been invited to participate in the ceremony. In addition, the UN Education Outreach Section will hold a global student videoconference, also at Headquarters.
The Education Outreach Section invited young people from around the world to submit videos on how the Sustainable Development Goals can build peace. The most engaging videos can be viewed on the UN International Day of Peace YouTube channel and a small selection will be shown at the global student videoconference.
In his message ahead of the Day, the Secretary-General said the theme of this year's observance highlights the 17 Sustainable Development Goals – or SDGs – as building blocks for peace.
“Sustainable development is essential for lasting peace, and both depend on respect for human rights,” he said. “All of us can be sustainable development advocates.”
“On this International Day of Peace, express your commitment to peace by becoming a champion for the SDGs,” he said.
The Day was established 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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