The International Day of Peace will follow on the heels of a special summit of world leaders at UN headquarters on 14-16 September. During this high-level meeting, heads of state and government discussed strategies linking development, security, human rights and peace into a cohesive framework. It was the largest gathering of world leaders in history.

The International Day of Peace was first established in 1981 by a resolution 36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening session every September. In 2001 the resolution 55/282 was strengthened to fix the date annually on 21 September and for it to be a day of nonviolence and cease-fire. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Member States of the General Assembly.

This year, the Day will be observed at UN Headquarters with the traditional ceremony in which the Secretary-General rings the Peace Bell. Keeping with past tradition, numerous events and observances are planned around the world by United Nations offices, governmental and non-governmental agencies and civil society and religious groups to promote the ideals of peace and nonviolence.