United Nations Highlights Importance of Partnerships on International Day of Peace
The world will mark the International Day of Peace on Monday, 21 September. In his annual message, the Secretary-General calls upon all warring parties to lay down their weapons and observe a global ceasefire. “Stop the killings and the destruction and create space for lasting peace,” he said.
To mark the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, the theme of this year’s observance is “Partnerships for Peace — Dignity for All”. The work of the Organization would not be possible without the thousands of partnerships each year between Governments, civil society, the private sector, faith-based groups and other non-governmental organizations that are needed to support the United Nations in achieving its future goals. This year is also significant as it marks a transition to a new global sustainable development agenda.
The International Day of Peace is commemorated globally. United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, as well as United Nations Information Centres, will be organizing events with their local communities. At United Nations Headquarters in New York, activities for the International Day will begin at 9 a.m. with the traditional Peace Bell ceremony in the Japanese Garden. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the President of the seventieth session of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark, will ring the Japanese Peace Bell in the company of the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, Motohide Yoshikawa; the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Cristina Gallach; and United Nations Messengers of Peace Jane Goodall and Michael Douglas, as well United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock. Students will hold flags of all 193 Member States as well as of the United Nations.
Following this, at 9:30 a.m., some 700 high school and university pupils will join these advocates for peace, including United Nations Messenger of Peace Yo Yo Ma and the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi, to exchange views on this year’s theme. Zuhal Sultan, founder of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, will serve as youth moderator. Students in Lebanon will be linked to the event from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) via videoconference. A demonstration on the peaceful uses of Taekwondo will be given at both locations — in Lebanon by peacekeepers from the Republic of Korea, and in New York, with support from the World Taekwondo Federation.
This event empowers young people to participate in building a culture of peace by offering them a platform to present their ideas and projects on peace-related issues. In addition, a musical performance from the United Nations International School will take place. To conclude the student observance, in commemoration of the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, a flag ceremony illustrating when Member States joined the Organization will take place.
The Peace Bell ceremony and the student observance will be broadcast live via United Nations Webcast at: http://webtv.un.org.
Additional information, including the full text of the Secretary-General’s message, is available on the International Day of Peace website in all six United Nations languages at: http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday.
For further information, please contact Catherine White, Associate Information Officer, Education Outreach Section, Department of Public Information, at white8@un.org.
For media accreditation, please contact the United Nations Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit at malu@un.org.