Peace=Future – the International Day of Peace – 21st September

Youth for Peace and Development

Kabul peace activity

The International Day of Peace, observed each year on 21 September, is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. This year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on young people around the world to take a stand for peace under the theme, Youth for Peace and Development.

UNMIT / UN Photo

The United Nations is looking for stories from young people around the world who are working for peace. The campaign slogan this year isPeace=Future, The math is easy.”

This year, the International Day of Peace (IDP) falls within the same time period as a major summit on the Millennium Development Goals, the world’s largest anti-poverty campaign. The Summit brings world leaders together at the United Nations in New York from
20 - 22 September.

In addition, the UN General Assembly has proclaimed 2010 asInternational Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. A campaign to be launched by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) on 12 August will promote the ideals of respect for human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions, and civilizations. Those are key elements that reinforce the foundations of a sustainable peace.

Youth, peace and development are closely interlinked: Peace enables development, which is critical in providing opportunities for young people, particularly those in countries emerging from conflict. Healthy, educated youth are in turn crucial to sustainable development and peace. Peace, stability and security are essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, aimed at slashing poverty, hunger, disease, and maternal and child death by 2015.

The Secretary-General has recognized the incredible potential of youth which must be tapped to ensure these goals are met in their lifetimes.

Each year, the Secretary-General, his Messengers of Peace, the entire UN system and many individuals, groups and organizations around the world use the Day of Peace to engage in activities that contribute to ceasefires, end conflict, bridge cultural divides and create tolerance.

On 13 June 2010, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the 100-day countdown to the International Day of Peace, calling on young people around the world to submit their stories via social media, detailing what they do for peace.

Resources for the International Day of Peace

• Growing Together. Youth and the work of the United Nations
• Millennium Development Goals
• High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly, 20-22 September 2010
• Millennium Campaign
• International Year of Youth (12 August 2010 – 11 August 2011)
• United Nations Program on Youth
• United Nations Children’s Fund – Voices of Youth
• Citizen Ambassador Campaign
• UN Peace and Security
• Peacekeeping
• Peacebuilding Commission
• Children and Armed Conflict
• UN Works for Peace
• Peace Education

Peace Education

Links and resources  -Peace Education

UN Documents

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
• Convention on the Political Rights of Women
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace
• Declaration on Fundamental Principles concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding, to the Promotion of Human Rights and to Countering Racialism, Apartheid and Incitement to War
• Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
• Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
• Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women
• Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict
• Guidelines for a Plan of Action for UNESCO Interregional Project for Culture of Peace and Non-Violence in Educational Institutions
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
• International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
• The Hague Agenda for Peace and Justice for the 21^st Century (Ref. A/54/98)
• The Human Right to Peace
• The Rio Declaration
• “The Role of the United Nations in the 21^st Century – Millennium Report of the Secretary General”
• The Seville Statement on Violence
• Conference for the Establishment of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
• UNESCO Declaration and Integrated Framework of Action on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Democracy
• UNESCO Manifesto 2000
• UNESCO Recommendation concerning education for international understanding, co-operation and peace and education relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms
• United Nations Charter
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Yamoussoukro Declaration on Peace in the Minds of Men, (International Congress on Peace in the Minds of Men)
• Women’s Contribution to a Culture of Peace: STATEMENT. (Fourth World Conference on Women)

Web Links

• International Human Rights Instruments
• UNESCO Declarations
• UNESCO Culture of Peace
• UNESCO Education for a Culture of Peace
• Human Rights Education Associates
• Hague Appeal for Peace
• International Peace Research Association
• International Peace Bureau
• Educators for Social Responsibility
• (ESR) Resolving Conflict Creatively Program
• People’s Decade for Human Rights Education
• Anne Frank: Lessons in Human Dignity
• Anne Frank House
• Free the Children
• Global Youth Connect
• Hague Appeal Youth Network
• Peace Games
• Leap Confronting Conflict
• Amnesty international
• UNESCO Youth Co-ordination Unit
• UNESCO Culture of Peace Global Movement
• UNICEF Voices of Youth
• Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)
• SoftPower.org-A Conflict Resolution Role-Play Site
• Peace & Non-violence, Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace
• WorldWide Classroom Library of International Programs
• Conflict Resolution Network- CreNet
• The Network: Interaction for Conflict Resolution
• Education International
• Bullying
• Education For All
• Appeal of the Nobel Prize Laureates-Intl Decade of a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children in the World
• Education World
• Oxfam International (campaign on basic education)
• Teachers@Work
• Educators for Social Responsibility
• Learning Language of Dialogue – Givat Haviva Education Center
• Life Link Friendship Schools
• Hague Appeal for Peace
• The Consortium on Peace Research, Education and Development
• Peace Education International

Still not enough?

Why not have a month of it and get involved with Peace One Day

Global – Peace One Day Global Education Resource

This year (2010) Peace One Day has partnered with Skype to develop and launch the Peace One Day Global Education Resource. Available in the six official languages of the United Nations: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian and Spanish, the Resource includes 13 interactive, student-centred lesson plans, with accompanying student resources.

Included in this resource, and in all new editions, is a new lesson – ‘Intercultural Cooperation’ – enabling young people to connect with others in different countries using free Skype software. Young people are encouraged to explore cooperation on Peace Day and build lasting bridges with other cultures.

As with all Peace One Day education materials, the Global Education Resource is designed to be used in conjunction with The Day After Peace Documentary.

and Lenny Kravitz….

and Peter Gabriel…

For younger children

Make a Pinwheel for peace (see: blog )

Many children around the world will be making a pinwheel for peace on Peace Day.

See examples from previous years on:

http://www.pinwheelsforpeace.com/pinwheelsforpeace/home.html

and finish with a song….