Essay on “International Day of Peace  – September 21” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

International Day of Peace  – September 21

The General Assembly, in resolution 55/282 of 7 September 2001, decided that, beginning in 2002, the International Day of peace should be observed on 21 September each year. The Assembly declared that the Day be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non- violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the day.

It invited all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, regional and non- governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate the day in an appropriate manner, including through education and public awareness, and to cooperate with the United Nations in establishing a global ceasefire.

The International Day of Peace, established  by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the September 1982. Beginning on the 20^th anniversary in 2002, the UN General Assembly set 21 September as the date for the International Day of Peace.

Concept of peace

Peace is a common desire of people throughout the world. The establishment of the United Nations in 1945, at the end of the most devastating war  in human history, was an embodiment of this universal desire. Keeping peace and developing friendly relations among nations are among the main objectives of the United Nations.

Peace is more than absence of war. It is about transforming our socities and uniting our global community to work together for a more peaceful, just and sustainable world for ALL.

The most common way of commemorating the Day is by observing a moment of silence. In many countries,     local civic groups and schools hold special events and ceremonies. The true meaning of the day lies in the participation of people around the world , gathering to think about the meaning of peace and their commitment to its realization.

What can we do?

• Organize a peace Walk.
• Raise the UN flag and flags of the countries of the world.
• Sing a peace song.
• Have a group meeting.
• Visit a hospital or nursing home.
• Volunteer at a recycling center.
• Plant a tree.
• Make a new friend.

In establishing the International Day of Peace. the United Nations General Assembly decided that it would be appropriate.

“to devote a specific time to concentrate the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States , as well as of the whole of making, the promote the ideals of peace and to give positive evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways. ………  the International Day of Peace should be devoted to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.”

The Assembly’s resolution declared that the International Day of Peace.

“will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our Organizations, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the Organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace. May this peace Day indeed be a day of peace.”

The amended Resolution adopted in 2001 permanently fixed the date of the  International Day of peace to September 21.

“The Assembly, reaffirming the contribution that the observance and celebration of the International  Day of peace make in strengthening the ideals of peace and alleviating tensions and causes of conflict, (decided that ) beginning with the fifty- seventh session, the day should be observed on 21 September each year, with this date to be brought to the attention of all people for the celebration and observance of peace.”

The new resolution added the call for the international day of peace to be a Global Ceasefire:

“Declares that the International Day of Peace shall henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day….”

Peace Education

Peace Education is a broader discipline. Disarmament education. Human rights education, environment education, education, for non-violence, education for international understanding, and global education are the branches of peace education are the branches of peace education. It enables the learners in creating a culture of peace, which helps in building a non – violent and just society.

Peace Education should be constructed upon the curriculum that   aims to teach justice , altruism, tolerance, principles of equity, trusteeship, non-violence, human rights, disarmament, and environmental problem and issues, including other principles of Democracy.

Peace Education is indispensable for the  continued existence of the Human race. Peace education is also momentous in today’s  world of racial intolerance, communal violence, and  religious fanaticism. Peace education is mandatory for it teaches tolerance , respect  for diversity, and acceptance of differences.

What, Where, When , Why & How?

What : The International Day of Peace provides an occasion for individuals, organizations and  nations to create practical acts of Peace on a shared date. Use the International Day of Peace annually to annually to highlight the Decade for a Culture of peace and Non- Violence for the Children of the World, 2001 to 2010.

When : Annually, 21 September- The International Day of Peace

Where : Wherever you are.

Who : You and all who care about building Cultures of peace for the Children of this and future generations.

Why : to mark our individual and collective progress toward building Cultures of Peace, and serve as a reminder of our permanent commitment to Peace, above all interests and differences of any kind.

How : Through a range of paths  to personal and planetary

International Decade for Peace (2001-2010)

The United Nations as the respected world body and forum for global issues, including peace and security, is once again a leader  in pressing societies for the establishment of  initiatives promoting reconciliation. The Un Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) acting as the lead UN agency, is promoting the International Decade for a culture of peace and Non- Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010). 

The Decade’s mandate stresses the principles of non- violence espoused so strongly during the International Year  for the Culture  of peace’s (IYCP-2000) but focuses increasingly upon the plight of  millions of children worldwide, and the need to create and implement non- violent strategies to alleviate to that plight.

Culture of Peace Programme (CPP)

Originally, the Culture of Peace Programme (CPP) was created in 1994 for the promotion of standards that would encourage and enhance peaceful co-existence, the successful programme blossomed into the Year for the Culture of Peace (2000). With the popularity of the principles of the year, and the perseverance of peace and non- violence advocates, the International decade for a Culture of Peace and Non- Violence for the Children of the World was established by UN General Assembly resolution 53/25.

Chief among the activities required to promote non-violence among children in all communities is education. Both formal and informal education provides children with the necessary tools for acquiring  the knowledge base, skills, values, attitudes and behaviors associated with non-violence. The basic values and attitudes for life, as enunciated in the General Assembly Resolution establishing the Decade, are considered by the UN to be elements indispensable for capturing the quintessence of non- violence.

The media plays an important role with respect to the evolution and promotion of the Principles of non-violence and peace. especially within the span of the last ten years, there has been a fundamental transformation of the communications industry. The internet has knowledge gap  on many levels, while at the  same time providing a form of communication through user-to-user integration. As a medium that is especially appealing to children, the Internet has the ability to provide an effective means by which children are able to communicate with other children, with outreach organizations and with policy creation and lobbying organizations worldwide.

The fundamental principles of the International Year for a Culture of Peace continue and have been enhanced with the launch of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non- violence Among the Children of the World. Awareness of issues concerning non- violence must become imperative for the successful advancement of a culture of peace during the first decade of the new millennium.      

Appeal of the Noble Peace Prize Laureates for the Children of the World

Today, in every single country throughout the world there are many children silently suffering the effects and consequences of violence, this violence takes many different forms: between children on streets, at school in family life and in the community. There is physical violence, psychological violence, socio- economic violence, environmental violence and political violence. Many children- too many children – live in a “ Culture of violence”. We wish to contribute to reduce their suffering. We believe that each child can discover, by himself, that violence is not inevitable. We can offer hope, not only to the children of the world, but to all of humanity, by beginning to create, and build, a new Culture of Nonviolence.  

For this reason, we address this solemn appeal to all Heads of States, of all member countries of the General Assembly of the United Nations , for the UN General Assembly to declare: That the first decade of the new millennium, the years 20012010,  be declared the “Decade for a Culture of Nonviolence” : that at the start of the decade the year 2000 be declared the “Year of Education for Nonviolence”; that nonviolence be taught at every level in our societies during this decade, to make the children of the world aware of the real, practical meaning and benefits of nonviolence in their daily lives, in order to reduce the violence , and consequent suffering , perpetrated against them and humanity in general. Together, we can build a new culture of nonviolence for humankind that will give hope to all humanity, and in particular, to the children of our world. [ With deepest respect, The Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.] 

Towards a Global Culture of Peace

The culture of peace provides an alternative to the escalating cycle of violence in the world. Our biological legacy of aggression is the basis of our capacity for righteous indignation against injustice that is essential for peace activism and peace education over the course of history , humans have developed a culture that permits and encourage war and violence. Think of it this way what do you need to have a war?  

• As enemy
• Armaments
• A society in which people follow orders
• A belief that power can be maintained through violence
• Control of information (secrecy, propaganda)
• Profitability – whether for plunder, colonies, economic domination or the profits of the military –industrial complex.

In fact, if any one of these is missing, you cant’s have war. No enemy – no war. No armaments- no war. No control of information – no war. And if people don’t follow orders and if they don’t believe that power can be maintained through violence – no war.

There is only one way out from the cycle of violence; a culture of peace :

• Instead of enemy images,
  • Understanding, tolerance & solidarity
• Instead of armaments.
  • Disarmament, universal & verifiable
• Instead of authoritarian governance,
  • Democratic participation
• Instead of secrecy and propaganda,
  • The free flow & sharing of information
• Instead of violence,
  • Dialogue, negotiation , rule of law, active non – violence
• Instead of male domination,
  • The equality of women
• Instead of education for war,
  • Education for peace
• Instead of exploitation of the weak and of the environment,
  • Economies of peace with equitable, sustainable development.