The International Day of Peace, which is sanctioned by the United Nations, is celebrated around the world on September 21 of each year. The theme this year is, “The Right to Peace-The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70.” The observance of this special day is aimed at strengthening the ideals of peace among and within all peoples and nations.
What is involved in observing of the International Day of Peace
The International Day of Peace, which is also called Peace Day, gives nations, organizations and individuals an opportunity to do acts of kindness and peace. People around the world are free to engage in different and meaningful ways to express their idea of peace. Some people observe a minute of silence. Other people write peace poetry, engage in meditation and yoga, join peace marches or attend events centered on peace education. Every individual is free to take part or find a way to promote peace.
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, the member states of the United Nations (UN) adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The members of the UN understood that building a peaceful world is not possible without addressing the problems of social and economic development that people around the world face. They also want the rights of their people to be protected.
Various issues are covered by the Sustainable Goals, such as social justice, environment, energy, sanitation, water, gender equality, health, hunger and poverty. Each of these issues is addressed by the individual member states of the United Nations.
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions is the 16th Sustainable Development Goal. It covers the promotion of inclusive and peaceful societies to realize a country’s sustainable development. It includes access to justice for everyone, as well as building inclusive, accountable and effective institutions at all levels of society.
It is established that a peaceful society is one where every person enjoys equality and justice. Peace enables the creation of a sustainable environment which in turn aid in the promotion of peace.
The Declaration of Human Rights
This year’s theme for the observance of the International Day of Peace is the celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ 70th anniversary. It was adopted on December 10, 1948 during the general assembly of the United Nations in Paris. Representatives with different cultural and legal backgrounds from all over the world contributed to the creation of the draft for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Universal Declaration has been translated into over 500 languages to date. It is believed to be the world’s most translated document, and its relevance today is on the same level as when it was created and adopted.
António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, has declared that if all the people and all the nations follow the guidelines of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He said it was time to recognize the inalienable and equal rights and the inherent dignity of people all over the world.
But humans’ right to peace does not have a separate article in the Universal Declaration, which is why it is this year’s theme, because “human rights is for everyone.”
Ways to show peaceful actions
On Peace Day, people all over that world are encouraged to be part of any activity to support peace. It could be thinking of non-violent ways to report or solve potential crimes, such as bullying in school, cyberbullying and other acts that demean the dignity of another person.
People from all walks of life share their own thoughts on how to achieve peace. What is essential is for people to do peaceful actions every chance they get, not only during Peace Day. Some of the shared ideas include:
- Learning to appreciate and loving yourself
- Showing respect for the environment
- Avoiding making decisions while sad or angry
- Respecting people even if they are different from you
- Showing empathy, caring, honesty and sensibility
- Learning to forgive
- Learning to use words to save the life of someone
- Not judging people because of their religion, sexual orientation, skin color or cultural background. Ask if you do not understand them.
- Respecting and accepting diversity
- Learning to listen and remaining calm before speaking during a stressful situation
- Promoting positive energy by laughing, living and loving
There are various activities happening around the world to celebrate the Universal Day of Peace. Some of these include:
- Attending an interfaith mass
- Having a toast for peace
- Saying a prayer for peace and lighting peace candles
- Tree planting in honor of peace
- Joining peace picnics and peace walks
A different beginning
While many peace treaties are drafted and signed to end conflicts, the International Day of Peace was conceived not in order to end wars. It all started in 1981 when Costa Rica and the United Kingdom sponsored a resolution in the United Nations to reserve the General Assembly’s opening day, which normally falls on the third week of September as International Peace Day. Costa Rica is one of the countries in the world that does not have a standing army as the country abolished its army in 1949 after the end of the Costa Rican Civil War.
Peace Day is likewise observed as a day of non-violence and global ceasefire. It is a brief but much-needed reprieve for places with ongoing armed conflicts such as in Syria, Turkey and Yemen.
Promoting peaceful co-existence through translation
We at Day Translations, Inc. always support the idea of happy and peaceful co-existence with people of different ethnic backgrounds, where effective communication, cooperation and collaboration promote healthy work environment. Proper communication is key to mutual understanding, which is why we only work with translators who are native speakers and living in-country. It assures clients that their translations are done by professionals and are highly accurate. Many of our translators are subject matter experts, specializing in different fields of expertise. Our interpreters talk your language, so whenever you need language services, ensure that your messages are properly communicated to avoid misunderstanding and tension, get in touch with us. You can reach Day Translations any time of the day throughout the year by calling 1-800-969-6853. You can also send us a email at Contact us.
What is your peace goal for today?