Peaceful MOSOP protest against the pollution of the Delta valley through Shell's oil production.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution 36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly. The first Peace Day was observed in September 1982. In 2001, the General Assembly established the 21st of September as annual day of non-violence and cease-fire, asking all nations and people to stop hostilities during this day and to try to work towards peaceful solutions to conflicts.

UNPO firmly believes that every day should be one of peaceful interaction and reflection – however, the UN International Day of Peace reminds us that this has yet to materialize.  Many of our members are oppressed on a daily basis and as such face violence. However, as outlined in the UNPO Covenant, UNPO requires all members to adhere to peaceful means to achieve their goals and helps them to do so, e.g. by providing access to international forums as well as trainings to help members gain knowledge and skills needed for successful non-violent advocacy. UNPO is convinced that the principles, methodology, and practice of Gandhian nonviolence and nonviolent civil-resistance are the most effective means of pursuing and enforcing both collective and individual rights.

On the 21st of September all around the world Special activities and celebrations take place to promote peace, including educational programs, conferences, discussions and concerts. The UN asks everyone worldwide to observe a minute of silence, at noon local time, to honor victims of violence – those who have lost their lives, and those who survived but must now cope with trauma and pain.  This gives people an opportunity to pause and take stock of the ongoing suffering, violence and hardship that many people, especially oppressed groups, are confronted with.

Every year the International Day of peace focuses on a different topic related to peace. This year’s theme is “Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future.” Previous topics have included the connection between peace and democracy, human rights and peacekeeping and the role of youth in furthering peace and development.

Sustainability was chosen as this year topic to highlight the impact of the impact of war on future generations, both morally and physically. In his message for this year’s Day of Peace, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon points out how armed conflicts often rob people of their future by destroying the environment and opportunities for jobs and to fight poverty. Therefore he calls on everyone to help to promote peace so that natural resources can be used not to finance wars but to build a better future for everyone.

Many UNPO members find themselves in situations where war and oppression have impacted future prospects and degraded their environment. This includes the Batwa, many of whom lost their land and homes in the civil war without compensation and continue to be subjected to forced evictions and destruction of their homes, leaving them landless and homeless. Many more groups are affected in similar ways, e.g. indigenous groups like the Moro and the Mapuche suffer as a result of environmental destruction caused by governments and logging companies’ disregard of indigenous right to ancestral lands and way of life.

UNPO believes the protection of the environment and its natural resources is linked to the fundamental rights of Nations and Peoples everywhere, necessitating respect for the enshrined rights of free, prior, and informed consent, so as to guarantee their right to determine their own future and the protection and respect for their ancestral lands and resources. One of UNPO’s aims is to offer assistance in the development and implementation of measures designed to protect the natural environment and the creation of sustainable development projects.

To celebrate the International Day of Peace in Brussels a Festival will take place from 14:40 – 22:00 at the Museumplein. It offers live concerts, featuring musicians from all around the world, debates as well as a ‘social village’ where social projects and organizations present their work. UNPO will have a booth, handing out information about UNPO upcoming events, collecting signatures for the Contemporary Slavery Campaign, asking for donations and offering activities like pinning members on a map of the world. We invite everyone located nearby to join us. The whole event is free of charge and followed by an after party. The festival also offers workshops on how everyone individually can live more sustainable and promote peace.