International Day of Peace

About the day

The International Day of Peace is an annual day of global ceasefire and nonviolence. It was established in 1981 by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. Originally celebrated on the third Tuesday of September to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly session, it has since 2002 been celebrated on the fixed date of 21 September.

Each year, celebrations for the International Day of Peace take place in many parts of the world, usually taking the form of vigils, marches and festivals. Several groups in Australia run events. The secretary-general of the United Nations peels the Japanese Peace Bell at the United Nations headquarters in New York and delivers a message of peace.

Why a ceasefire day?

The International Day of Peace is intended to be a day of global ceasefire. Its purposes are more
than just symbolic. They include:

• Providing relief workers with a safe interlude for the provision of vital services
• Offering mediators a building block towards a wider truce
• Allowing those involved in violent conflict to reconsider the wisdom of further violence
• Permitting freedom of movement and information, which can lead to the reunion of families and a long-lasting cessation of hostilities
• Relieving those embroiled in violent conflict from the daily burden of fear for one’s own safety and the safety of others
• Providing a pause for reflection by the international community on the threats and challenges we face

Australia's role

The Peace Organisation of Australia has lobbied the Australian Government to take steps to help achieve a global ceasefire on the International Day of Peace. However, the Government has so far said that it only supports the day "in principle". We encourage you to write to the Prime Minister to ask him to give full support to the initiative.