Each year the International Day of Peace is observed worldwide on the 21st of September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

Brief History:

The United General Assembly declared September 21 as World Peace Day in 1981. The aim is to promote and maintain peace among all people and 24 hours of global ceasefire and non-violence for groups in active combat.

Theme:

Each year the day is celebrated with a different and unique theme.

The 2022 theme for the International Day of Peace is 

“End racism. Build peace.”

As conflicts continue to erupt across the globe, causing people to flee, we have seen race-based discrimination at borders. As COVID-19 keeps attacking our communities, we have seen how certain racial groups have been hit much harder than others. As economies suffer, we have seen hate speech and violence directed at racial minorities.

UN Secretary-General Antonio has quoted, “Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures and everyday life in our society. It continues to deny people their fundamental human rights”.

In IFM-SEI Aims and Principles, we believe in the following about peace: ‘Peace is more than just the absence of war. We are dedicated to a world free from abuse, war, bullying, discrimination, exclusion and fear. We choose peace and peace education that criticises reality but also gives an alternative where conflicts are peacefully transformed.’ 

We strongly believe that real peace comes through a change in society’s values as a whole and can only really be achieved in a truly democratic and equal world. Conflict, violence and war can have a profound and long-lasting detrimental effect on children and young people. At the same time, children and young people play a vitally important role in transforming conflict and choosing peace. Hence, IFM-SEI uses socialist education as our primary tool to reach our aims and principles. 

IFM-SEI approach to socialist education asks how we, as collective actors worldwide, change the social system responsible for creating the divisions around climate crisis, peace, race, gender, children, and class. 

 “Critical reflection on practice requires the relationship between theory and practice. Otherwise, theory becomes simply “blah, blah, blah,” and practice, pure activism.” – Paulo Freire.

So, how can we ‘shape peace together on this day?

• Reflect on your local reality: 
  • How peaceful is your city, your region, your country?
  • What does the lack or presence of peacefulness mean for your own life and that of your families?
  • How can you positively affect the peacefulness around you?
  • Is there any anti-racist mechanism put in place? 
• Raise awareness for violations of peace:
  • Check if your media is reflective and reflect a clear anti-racist agenda. 
  • Do your politicians advocate for Human Rights and Children’s Rights within your own country or in international cooperation?
  • Do industries invest in conflicts or do business with governments violating their citizens’ right to peace?
• Practice daily peacefulness:
  • Is there something you could do for the members of your household or your family?
  • How can you reach out to those in your community whose right to dignity and well-being is hurt in small or big ways?
  • And most importantly, how can you protect and care for yourself? 

“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” By Eleanor Roosevelt

Let us all create Peace Day every day!