The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
The 2021 theme for the International Day of Peace is “Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World.” Celebrate peace by standing up against acts of hate online and offline, and by spreading compassion, kindness, and hope in the face of the pandemic, and as we recover.
History
1981 – UN General Assembly Resolution passed
1983 – Annual Reports
1996 – Seanad Éireann debate
2001 – Date set at 21 September
2004 – Taiwanese commemorative stamp controversy
2005 – UN Secretary General calls for 22-hour ceasefire
2006 – Peace Parade, UK
2007 – UN Secretary General calls for worldwide moment of silenc
2009 – International Year of Reconciliation announced
2009 International Day of Peace: WMD – We Must Disarm
2010 – Youth for Peace and Development
2011 – Peace and Democracy: Make Your Voice Heard
2012 – Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future
2013 – Focus on Peace education
2014 – Right to Peace
2015 – Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All
2016 – The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace
2017 – Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All
2018 – The Right to Peace – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70
2019 – Climate Action for Peace
2020 – Shaping Peace Together
2021 – Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World