About Peace Day

21 September – The International Day of Peace

On the 21 September each year the world celebrates the International Day of Peace. Across Interpeace we use the day to celebrate peace.

Known as "Peace Day", the International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by a United Nations General Assembly Resolution. In 2002, the General Assembly, by unanimous vote, adopted a second resolution which established 21 September as an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire.

‘Sustainable peace for a sustainable future’

Each year Peace Day takes a different theme. For 2012 it was ‘Sustainable peace for a sustainable future’. It has been chosen by the United Nations to highlight the fact that it is not possible to think about building a sustainable future if there is no sustainable peace.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations expanded on the rationale for the 2012 theme earlier this year: “Armed conflicts attack the very pillars of sustainable development, robbing people of the opportunity to develop, to create jobs, to safeguard the environment, to fight poverty, to reduce the risk from disasters, to advance social equity and to ensure that everyone has enough to eat.”

What’s possible with peace?

To support the 2012 theme ‘Sustainable peace for a sustainable future’ Interpeace seized the opportunity to demonstrate what can be achieved with peace.

Humanitarian work, education and training and the delivery of healthcare services are just a few of the life-saving initiatives that can be implemented more effectively and efficiently when there is peace. Only with peace can these interventions have a lasting impact.

Photo Credit: Henning Ras Photography for Peace One Day

Peace is only possible through partnerships

We have partnered with Jeremy Gilley and his team at Peace One Day to provide support on the ‘NGO Coalition.’

This coalition brings together like minded NGOs that wish to highlight the need for peace and what can be achieved with peace on the 21 September as part of Peace One Day’s ‘Global Truce’ Campaign.

We, at Interpeace, are working to consistently increased the membership of the ‘NGO Coalition’. By 21 September 2012 membership stood at nearly 400 organizations in 127 countries.

Scott M. Weber, Interpeace Director-General explains: "In order to have peace every day, we need to show peace is possible on one day. That is why we are so proud to be supporting Jeremy and his team."

Find out how you can get involved in the ‘NGO Coalition’ in support of Peace Day: Check out the 'NGO Coalition' website or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Highlighting the ‘nuts and bolts’ of peace

We also mark the day with conferences and events across the globe in order to highlight to the world how we approach the challenge of building lasting peace, best practices and some of the outstanding results that have been achieved to date.

See what our teams did for past Peace Days in 2011 and 2012.