Global Peace Appeal: UN Chief’s Message on International Peace Day

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the international community to silence the guns, end the suffering, build bridges, and create stability and prosperity, in a message on the International Day of Peace, observed annually on September 21. The UN Chief said, Peace cannot wait, as the warring world is crying out for peace, and this year’s International Day of Peace urges each of us to give voice to that call. He pointed out that while sustainable development supports peace, nine of the 10 countries struggling most with development are suffering conflict. The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the UN General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and ceasefire. The theme for this year is Act Now for a Peaceful World.