INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

Quick Facts

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Peace is annually held on September 21 to recognize the efforts of individuals, organizations and governments to end conflict and promote peace.

Local names

Name	Language
International Day of Peace	English
Día Internacional de la Paz	Spanish

Alternative name

Peace Day

International Day of Peace 2012

Friday, September 21, 2012

International Day of Peace 2013

Saturday, September 21, 2013

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Peace is celebrated on September 21 each year to recognize the efforts of those who have worked hard to end conflict and promote peace. The International Day of Peace is also a day of ceasefire – personal or political.

The dove is a symbol often associated with the International Day of Peace. ©iStockphoto.com/Sue McDonald

What do people do?

On the International Day of Peace, also known as Peace Day, people around the world take part in various activities and organize events centered on the theme “peace”. Events vary from private gatherings to public concerts and forums involving large audiences. Activities include:

• Interfaith peace ceremonies.
• A toast for peace.
• A peace choir.
• Lighting candles.
• Peace prayers.
• A peace convoy of vehicles.
• Tree planting for peace.
• Art exhibitions promoting peace.
• Picnics for peace.
• Peace walks.

Organizations such as Roots & Shoots, an international environmental and humanitarian program for youth, show their support for the event on an annual basis. Young people involved in Roots & Shoots may engage in activities such as crafting giant peace dove puppets from re-used materials and flying the doves in their communities. People from diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds also commit to organizing an International Day of Peace Vigil. Some groups observe a minute of silence at noon in every time zone across the world on Peace Day.

Public life

The UN’s International Day of Peace is a global observance and not a public holiday. It is a day when nations around the world are invited to honor a cessation of hostilities during the day.

Background

A UN resolution established the International Day of Peace in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the UN General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in 1982 and was held on the third Tuesday of September each year until 2002, when September 21 became the permanent date for the International Day of Peace. The assembly decided in 2001 that the International Day of Peace should be annually observed on September 21 starting from 2002. By setting a fixed date for the International Day of Peace, the assembly declared that the day should be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.

By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged people to work in cooperation for this goal. Since its inception, Peace Day has marked personal and planetary progress toward peace. It has grown to include millions of people worldwide and many events are organized each year to commemorate and celebrate this day.

Symbols

The peace dove flying with an olive branch in its beak is one of the most commonly featured symbols for the day. In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam a white dove is generally a sign for peace. The dove can also represent “hope for peace” or a peace offering from one person to another, hence the phrase “to extend an olive branch”. Often, the dove is represented as still in flight to remind people of its role as messenger.

External links

International Day of Peace: September 21

International Day of Peace Observances

Weekday	Date	Year	Name	Holiday type	Where it is observed
Tue	Sep 21	1982	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 20	1983	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 18	1984	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 17	1985	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 16	1986	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 15	1987	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 20	1988	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 19	1989	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 18	1990	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 17	1991	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 15	1992	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 21	1993	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 20	1994	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 19	1995	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 17	1996	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 16	1997	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 15	1998	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 21	1999	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 19	2000	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 18	2001	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Sat	Sep 21	2002	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Sun	Sep 21	2003	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 21	2004	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Wed	Sep 21	2005	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Thu	Sep 21	2006	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Fri	Sep 21	2007	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Sun	Sep 21	2008	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Mon	Sep 21	2009	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Tue	Sep 21	2010	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Wed	Sep 21	2011	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Fri	Sep 21	2012	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Sat	Sep 21	2013	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Sun	Sep 21	2014	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance
Mon	Sep 21	2015	International Day of Peace	United Nations observance