UN International Day of Peace
Each year on September 21, the UN invites all nations and people to honor a cessation of hostilities and commemorate the International Day of Peace through education and public awareness on issues related to peace. In the quest for peace, UPF and its Ambassadors for Peace around the world organize commemorations of the International Day of Peace each year.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Serov, Russia - Senior citizens celebrated peace with children at a rehabilitation center.
- Written by: UPF-Eurasia
St. Petersburg, Russia - Students participated in the project "The Baltic Sea Is Our Common Sea."
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Yekaterinburg, Russia - Children at an orphanage learned about peace and made paper cranes.
- Written by: UPF - San Marino
San Marino - Ambassadors for Peace and their guests celebrated the International Day of Peace at a Social Center.
- Written by: UPF - St. Lucia
- Written by: UPF - St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia - Representatives of six organizations met and published a joint peace declaration.
- Written by: UPF - Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland - A disarmament seminar at the UN offices included a model UN interreligious council.
- Written by: UPF - Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand - Events organized for the Day of Peace included a seminar, concert, and observances of one minute of silence in 15 schools.
- Written by: UPF - UK
London, England - At a Sept. 21, 2009 conference in London on the International Day of Peace, a scholar called for effective weapons monitoring and a peace activist spoke of the need to reduce war-related spending.
- Written by: UPF - Ukraine
Kharkov, Ukraine - Students heard lectures and watched a film about peace.
- Written by: UPF - Ukraine
Kiev, Ukraine - A number of projects took place with students and refugee children.
- Written by: UPF - Ukraine
Sumy, Ukraine - A football match took place between teams from two universities.
- Written by: UPF - Ukraine
Zhitomir, Ukraine - Volunteers gave a presentation about peace at an orphanage and engaged youth in a friendly football match.
- Written by: UPF - Uruguay
Montevideo, Uruguay - Peace was celebrated through music, games, poetry, and lectures.
- Written by: UPF - USA
Colorado, USA - Music and interfaith prayers marked the Day of Peace in Denver.
- Written by: UPF - Venezuela
Caracas, Venezuela - Volunteers cleaned and painted at an orphanage and center for the elderly in La Rinconada on the International Day of Peace 2009.
- Written by: UPF - Colombia
Bogotá, Colombia - Ambassadors for Peace organized a celebration of the International Day of Peace in the national Congress on Sept. 21, 2009, with religious leaders presenting a proposal for a national “Day of Pardon, Day of Peace, and Day of Thanksgiving.”
- Written by: UPF - USA
Washington, DC, USA - “Be at home!” was H.E. Ambassador Nathaniel Barnes’ greeting as each guest entered the ambassadorial residence as the sun set on September 23. With his wife, Dawn Barnes, at his side, Ambassador Barnes proceeded to host this special gathering of peacemakers and friends of Liberia, commemorating the UN International Day of Peace.
- Written by: UPF - Eurasia
The Eurasian Peace Council of UPF issued a statement on the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, 2009, calling for a resolution of conflicts in Eurasia not by force but through dialogue and compromise on the basis of the principle of territorial integrity of states, with due respect for the right of nations for self-determination.
- Written by: Michael Balcomb
The International Day of Peace is a United Nations Observance held on September 21st each year to call for peace. This year, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called for an international focus on nuclear disarmament. In response, UPF chapters around the world held programs to mark the day. Disarmament seminars and rallies took place in over 10 countries, including at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, with over 30 more nations holding events to address local peace issues.
Read more reports about the celebrations.
- Written by: UPF International
UPF chapters commemorated the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, 2009 through forums about disarmament, prayers for peace, and service and cultural programs.
- Written by: Shine Jose, UPF-India
Chennai, India - UPF, Religious Youth Service, and Loyola College held a joint commemoration of the International Day of Peace with a peace walk, distribution of flowers for peace, interreligious prayers, music for peace, peace talks, and releasing peace balloons.
- Written by: UPF - Moldova
Chisinau, Moldova - Participants were inspired by plans for the Global Peace Festival in Moldova.
- Written by: Dr. Habib Chirzin, President, Islamic Forum for Peace, Human Rights and Development, Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia - At HAMKA University, crowds observed a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.