PEACE BELL CEREMONY – INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, at Peace Bell Ceremony – International Day of Peace
Your Excellency, Mr. Secretary-General,
Your Excellency, Ambassador Bessho,
Goodall, Excellencies, dear friends,
It was the General Assembly that established the International Day of Peace in 1981. The countries of the world agreed that global peace was a crucial goal to which they aspired. And they knew that the United Nations had a central role to play in that regard.
One of my main priorities this year is sustaining peace and preventing conflict. It is not enough for the international community to scramble for solutions when the wars have already erupted. Instead, we need to strengthen the ties that bind us as fellow humans. We need to bolster social cohesion. We need to stop the battles before they break out.
In 2001, the General Assembly decided that warring parties should observe a twenty-four-hour cease-fire every year on the International Day of Peace. Casting aside arms, even for one day, is a noble and valuable gesture. But it would be even better if those weapons had never been picked up in the first place.
We will work together – across generations, across nationalities, across cultures – to attain our most precious goal – peace for our planet and all of its people.
Another major priority for my presidency is migration. So I am especially pleased to see that the Day‘s theme for this year is centred around respect, safety and dignity for migrants and refugees. Right now, the world is handling migration in a national and reactive fashion. But the time has come for a global governance system.
The General Assembly will work to finalise a global compact on migration during this session. We will try to develop a common understanding of this phenomenon in all its dimensions – including development, humanitarian aspects and human rights. This is an urgent test for the United Nations.
As you know, the theme of my presidency is: Focusing on people: striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet. I chose to focus on people because ultimately, peace cannot be measured in numbers of resolutions and high-level meetings. Peace is measured in the number of people who feel safe and secure – who are free to exercise their human rights – and who have hope for the future.
Those people include migrants and refugees. They might not have designated seats in the General Assembly Hall. But we shall work to ensure that their concerns are heard – because our world can only truly be peaceful if all members of our global community – including the most vulnerable – are able to live with the dignity that they deserve.
As the United Nations works for peace, we will need to collaborate closely with young people. I am happy to see the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth with us today. And I am especially encouraged to see 194 students here – holding the flags of the United Nations and all its Member States. We will work together – across generations, across nationalities, across cultures – to attain our most precious goal – peace for our planet and all of its people.
