About Peace Day & 2010 UN Theme

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution
36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its
opening session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of
September. The first Peace Day was observed in September 1982. In 2001,
the General Assembly by unanimous vote adopted resolution 55/282, which
established 21 September as an annual day of non-violence and
cease-fire. The UN invites all nations and people to honour a cessation
of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day
through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

This year's Peace Day theme is Youth for Peace and Development

The International Day of Peace, observed each year on 21 September, is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. This year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on young people around the
world to take a stand for peace under the theme, Youth for Peace and Development.

This year, the International Day of Peace (IDP) falls within the same time period as a major summit on the Millennium Development Goals, the world’s largest anti-poverty campaign. The Summit brings
world leaders together at the United Nations in New York from 20 - 22 September.

In addition, the UN General Assembly has proclaimed 2010 as International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. A campaign to be launched by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) on 12 August will promote the ideals of respect for
human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions,
and civilizations. Those are key elements that reinforce the
foundations of a sustainable peace.

Youth, peace and development are closely interlinked: Peace enables development, which is critical in providing opportunities for young people, particularly those in countries emerging from conflict.
Healthy, educated youth are in turn crucial to sustainable development
and peace. Peace, stability and security are essential to achieving the
Millennium Development Goals, aimed at slashing poverty, hunger,
disease, and maternal and child death by 2015.

The Secretary-General has recognized the incredible potential of youth which must be tapped to ensure these goals are met in their lifetimes.

Each year, the Secretary-General, his Messengers of Peace, the entire UN system and many individuals, groups and organizations around the world use the Day of Peace to engage in activities that contribute
to ceasefires, end conflict, bridge cultural divides and create
tolerance. On 13 June 2010, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the
100-day countdown to the International Day of Peace, calling on young
people around the world to submit their stories via social media,
detailing what they do for peace.

Watch this space for some of those stories.