By Tendai Mbanje

Introduction

Every year on 21 September, the United Nations (UN) invites the world to mark the International Day of Peace. This day was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly.[1] In 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate this day as a day of non-violence and cease-fire.[2] This year’s focus is on “cultivating a culture of peace”.[3] According to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, ‘‘cultivating a culture of peace means replacing division, disempowerment, and despair with justice, equality, and hope for all’’.[4] This day takes us back to 1945 when the UN was formed with the primary objective of promoting international peace, cooperation, security, and developing friendly relations among nations.[5] The establishment of the UN has achieved significant success in various areas. However, the organisation's peace objectives continue to face numerous challenges.

Peace is under attack, and geopolitical tensions are on the rise, undermining the objectives of the UN

This year marks the 79th anniversary of the formation of the UN. While this is a great achievement, on the contrary, peace in many parts of the world is under attack, and geopolitical tensions are on the rise.[6] As a result, this phenomenon undermines the objectives of the UN. This anniversary has become a poignant reminder of the enduring gap between the ideals enshrined in the UN Charter and the current state of global affairs. It is believed that the UN is at its weakest, facing numerous challenges in maintaining international peace and security, including dealing with the complexity of conflicts.[7] A significant factor contributing to this situation is the increasingly fragmented nature of global geopolitics.[8] In recent years, we have witnessed a resurgence of nationalism and protectionism, with nations both large and small prioritizing their interests over collective security and the common good.[9] This trend not only undermines the effectiveness of multilateral institutions like the UN but also exacerbates tensions among states, leading to a more contentious international climate.

Powerful nations have constantly undermined the UN and act unilaterally and in exclusive alliances, pursuing strategic interests that overlook the broader implications for global peace and stability.[10] From Gaza, Sudan, to Ukraine and beyond we see these ‘unholy’ alliances among states. The interventions from the powerful states in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine for instance, reflect the prioritisation of national security concerns over humanitarian needs.[11] The persistent conflicts show the intersection of domestic and international interests, with global powers supporting factions that align with their geopolitical goals rather than those promoting sustainable peace. In addition, smaller nations frequently find themselves caught in the crossfire of larger powers' rivalries, struggling to assert their sovereignty and pursue their aspirations in a world where economic and military might often dictate foreign relations. Accordingly, the voices of these nations are dimmed in international discourse, further weakening the UN's ability to function as a true platform for cooperative security. Considering this, the 79th anniversary of the UN serves as both a celebration of its achievements and a critical reflection on its challenges. The current global landscape, marred by might over right, self-interest among states, and a decline in multilateralism, underscores the need for a renewed commitment to the principles of the UN Charter.[12] Without a collective re-evaluation of priorities and a shift toward genuine cooperation, the prospects of achieving lasting peace will remain severely diminished.

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.[13] In that declaration, the UN 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.”[14] Considering our world of rising geopolitical tensions and protracted conflicts, there has never been a better time to remember how the UN General Assembly came together in 1999 to lay out the values needed for a culture of peace.[15] These include respect for life, human rights, and fundamental freedoms; the promotion of non-violence through education, dialogue, and cooperation; commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts; and adherence to freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations.[16] The war in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine shows total abandonment of these values.

Furthermore, in follow-up resolutions, the General Assembly recognized further the importance of choosing negotiations over confrontation and of working together and not against each other. The Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) starts with the notion that “wars begin in the minds of men so it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”.[17] This idea served as the basis for the theme and the logo for the International Day of Peace celebration this year. This year’s theme emphasises how the ideas of peace, and the culture of peace, need to be cultivated in the minds of children and communities through formal and informal education, across countries and generations.[18] While this year's theme reminds us of a better world, the aspiration of world peace under the UN remains a dream.

In conclusion, the International Day of Peace has always been a time to lay down weapons and observe ceasefires. However, the wars in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza dim this hope, an indication of how far the world has moved away from the values of peace and nonviolence. Amid the challenges and hopelessness, we all have a role to play. This is a time for people to see each other’s humanity. Our survival as a global community depends on that. Too many of the world’s population are suffering today, our world truly needs peace. Peace is the ultimate prize for all humanity. This International Day of Peace reminds us that the solutions are in our hands. We cannot be silent or indifferent in the midst of conflict and violence. For those who choose the path of silence and indifference amid these wars, history will judge them harshly.   

[1] United Nations ‘International Day of Peace’. See: https://shorturl.at/C8I5K.

[2] Ibid.

[3] United Nations ‘International Day of Peace 2024 - Secretary-General's Message, Antonio Guterres’. See https://shorturl.at/wMUUJ

[4] Ibid.

[5] United Nations Charter, 1945.

[6] World Economic Forum ‘Economic fragmentation is rising as global tensions intensify, experts say’. See https://shorturl.at/KRcCo.

[7] ‘UN: Seventy years of changing the world’. See https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34310354.

[8]  n 5 above.

[9] United Nations ‘Rising Nationalism Threatens Multilateralism’s 70-Year ‘Proven Track Record’ of Saving Lives, Preventing Wars, Secretary-General Tells Security Council’. See https://press.un.org/en/2018/sc13570.doc.htm.

[10] United Nations ‘States Must Commit to Multilateralism, Many Speakers Tell Security Council Debate' See https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15766.doc.htm.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.

[13] United Nations ‘Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace: resolutions / adopted by the General Assembly'. See https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/285677?ln=en&v=pdf.

[14] United Nations ‘2024 Theme: Cultivating a Culture of Peace. See: https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Ibid.

[17] United Nations ‘Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2022 Edition'. See https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000382500.

[18] n 13 above.