International Day of Peace
The International Day of Peace, also officially known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed annually on 21 September. It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The day was first established in 1981 and first observed in September 1982 and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and people.
| International Day of Peace | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | All UN member states |
| Type | United Nations International Declaration |
| Celebrations | Multiple world wide events |
| Date | 21 September |
| Next time | 21 September 2024 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 1981 |
| Related to | Peace Movement |
To inaugurate the day, the United Nations Peace Bell is rung at UN Headquarters (in New York City). The bell is cast from coins donated by people from all continents except Africa, and was a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan, as "a reminder of the human cost of war"; the inscription on its side reads, "Long live absolute world peace".
In recent years, a searchable map of events has been published at un.org.