Addis Ababa, September 20, 2024 (FBC) – The 2024 international day of peace celebrated today in Addis Ababa under the theme “Cultivating a Culture of Peace.”
The event brought together Heads of UN agencies stationed in Ethiopia, representatives of civil society organizations, youth and women networks and other pertinent stakeholders.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.
In that declaration, the United Nations’ most inclusive body recognized that peace “not only is the absence of conflict, but also requires a positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.”
The International Day of Peace (Peace Day) is observed around the world each year on the 21st of September. The Day has always been a time to lay down weapons and observe ceasefires. But it now must also be a time for people to see each other’s humanity. In its latest statement marking the occasion, the UN warned that our survival as a global community depends on that.
Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.