Secretary-General Calls for Global Ceasefire on International Day of Peace

The following statement was issued today by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Each year, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September.  The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.  It was also established as an annual day of non-violence and ceasefire.  The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Partnerships for Peace — Dignity for All”, which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace.

On this day, in the lead -p to the Day of Peace, I am asking all partners to lend their voices to this call for a laying down of arms and to work non-stop in the days to come to bring about a 24-hour ceasefire on 21 September.

Let’s make this International Day of Peace a day without violence and a day of forgiveness.  If, for one day, we can live in a world without aggression and hostility, we can imagine how much more is possible.