21 September: International Day of Peace

On 21 September each year, the International Day of Peace is celebrated worldwide. The United Nations General Assembly dedicated this day to strengthening the ideals of peace by observing 24 hours of non-violence and ceasefire.

The theme of the International Day of Peace for 2022 is 'End Racism. Build Peace'. It invites people to join the efforts of the United Nations to work towards a world free from racism and racial discrimination. A world where compassion and empathy overcome suspicion and hatred. A world of which we can be truly proud.

As Secretary-General António Guterres said in a massage:
"Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures and daily life in every society. It continues to be the engine of persistent inequality. It continues to deny people their basic human rights. It destabilises societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments and... the links between racism and gender inequality are unequivocal'.

As conflicts continue to erupt around the world, causing people to flee, we see racial discrimination on our borders. COVID-19 continues to attack our communities and we have seen how some racial groups have been hit much harder than others. In the midst of multiple economic crises, hate speech and violence directed at racial minorities is increasing.

We all have a role to play in promoting peace. And tackling racism is a crucial way to contribute.

We can work to dismantle the structures that entrench racism in our mindset. We can support movements for equality and human rights everywhere. We can speak out against hate speech, both offline and online. We can promote anti-racism through education and restorative justice.