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Celebrate the International Day of Peace

Throughout history, alliances among nations have called for peace. For most, that meant conquering other countries and bringing them under a single ruler. Such efforts often testifies less to notions of peace and tolerance and more to the greed, corruption, and megalomania of certain rulers. The great empires of history come to mind, some more tolerant than others and most ruled by a culture or people who deemed themselves superior over those whom they ruled.

Broken peace treaties litter history. One of the earliest recorded treaties is that between the Egyptians and the Hittites (1258 BC). A list of treaties shows 30 Treaties of Paris running from 1229 to 1952. England and Scotland signed several peace treaties over the centuries, most of which were soon broken. The United States alone signed and broke more than 500 separate peace treaties with Native American tribes.

Organizations and pacifists dedicated to peace came and went. For instance, the American branch of the League to Enforce Peace published Enforce Peace, in 1916, in response to growing tensions in Europe. In 1866, Severn Nordentoft published Practical Pacifism and Its Adversaries in argument on the societal benefits of peace. Few people remember them. In contrast, Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli’s The Prince offers a handy little guide for world domination and is required reading in many schools.

Many alliances among nations focused less on peace than upon mutual support, particularly military support. Such alliances were considered in large part responsible for the global spread of World Wars I and II. After World War II, a collection of nations weary of war formed the United Nations with the ambition for peaceful resolution of conflict and global cooperation and collaboration.

By unanimous resolution in 1981, the United Nations (U.N.) designated September 21st as the International Day of Peace. In 2002, the U.N. declared it a permanent holiday. Dedicated to world peace and, specifically, the cessation of war and violence, countries at war are enjoined to observe the spirit of the occasion with ceasefires.

Ringing of the United Nations Peace Bell in New York City officially launches the holiday. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from 60 countries and given as a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan.

The United Nations adopted the biblical symbol of peace, a dove, as the logo for the International Day of Peace. Other countries have marked the holiday in their own ways with commemorative stamps, parades, observation of a collective moment of silence, peace marches, prayer vigils, education on conflict management skills, and public awareness on issues related to peace, including domestic violence. Peace Day activities also range from role-playing video games that mimic certain scenarios in need of peaceful resolution, sports events showcasing friendly competition, and service projects that help the needy.

In 2009, the U.N. intertwined peace with reconciliation, aligning the meaning of the holiday with the organization’s charter. This year’s theme for the holiday acknowledges growing recognition of violence against women as violence against humanity: “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All.” The day’s theme further emphasizes solidarity with refugees and migrants through testimonies as to how immigrants benefit the communities in which they settle.

Over the years, organizations such as UNESCO, Peace One Day, Wiser, Culture of Peace, thinkPEACE Network, , the Universal Peace Federation, the Peace Crane Project, and Peace Direct jumped on the The Peace Movement bandwagon to participate and collaborate.

The United Nations has long promoted peaceful coexistence and collaboration among the countries of the world. On November 12, 1984, the General Assembly issued a resolution titled “Declaration of the Right on Peoples to Peace.” The landmark resolution differed from previous similar statements in its use of gender neutral language and emphasis on secular humanism rather than religious principles.

By Karen M. Smith