The International Day of Peace (IDP, or Peace Day), is designated by the United Nations on September 21 as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. "Celebrate peace by standing up against acts of hate online and offline, and by spreading compassion, kindness, and hope in the face of the pandemic, and as we recover."
See photos and stories of how the global URI community celebrated the International Day of Peace this year.
Use these links to skip directly to celebrations from URI members, regional offices, and Cooperation Circles (CCs) in:
AFRICA
URI Cooperation Circle: Frontier for Peace and Advocate Foundation Nigeria
Location: Nigeria
Frontier for Peace and Advocate Foundation CC celebrated IDP with a community town hall meeting involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth, and security agencies. The event emphasized the importance of peace as the foundation for a better future, fostering dialogue and collaboration within the community.
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URI Cooperation Circle: Interreligious Council of Burundi
Location: Burundi
The Interreligious Council of Burundi CC marked IDP by organizing a press conference and launching a peace week. The event included radio and TV broadcasts, social media messages, and five gatherings across the country on September 21st. The celebrations featured community work and a high-level reflection meeting for leaders, aiming to instill peace in the hearts of Burundians as the country approaches elections.
ASIA
URI Cooperation Circle: URI-UN and Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons
Location: Japan
Members of URI-UN CC and Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons CC celebrated IDP at the Hiroshima Dome. The group participated in prayers and a World Peace Flag Ceremony, where each country’s flag received prayers for peace. The event included the recitation of The Nuclear Prayer by Bishop Swing and was attended by over 150 participants, both in person and via Zoom.
EUROPE
URI Cooperation Circle: URI Netherlands
Location: Netherlands
URI Netherlands celebrated IDP with an online event featuring guest speaker Ram Mohan Rai, who discussed the theme “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” from a Gandhian perspective. The event explored Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence, moral and spiritual values, and conflict resolution, continuing to inspire global peace efforts. Approximately 40 participants attended the event.
A recording of this program is available at URI Netherlands - In Dialogue Int. Day of Peace – Peace Week 2024
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URI Cooperation Circle: Dialogue & Alliance
Location: France
Dialogue & Alliance celebrated IDP 2024 with a one-day webinar in French on the topic "The Values and Culture of Peace." The event highlighted a quote by Spinoza: "Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice." Approximately 50 participants attended in person, with more joining online.
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
URI Cooperation Circle: CC Latinoamericano de Músicos
Location: Mexico
CC Latinoamericano de Músicos celebrated IDP 2024 by exchanging knowledge through musical discourse focused on peace within the community. The event took place on September 21st with two sessions held at 10 AM and 7 PM, bringing together around 30 participants to promote harmony through the power of music.
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
MULTIREGION
URI Cooperation Circle: Global Youth Movement and Doha Immanuel Marthoma Yuvajanasakhyam
Location: Qatar
Global Youth Movement CC and Doha Immanuel Marthoma Yuvajanasakhyam CC celebrated IDP 2024 with a heartwarming event that included a message from Jerry White, Executive Director of URI, and an address by Rev. Linvin C. Thomas. The celebration featured a youth choir performance of "Heal the World," a session on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the symbolic lighting and passing of candles to symbolize unity and peace.
A recording of this event is at https://youtu.be/2CBJbt-8MMU
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URI Cooperation Circle: URI-UN and Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons
Location: Japan
Members of URI-UN CC and Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons CC celebrated IDP at the Hiroshima Dome. The group participated in prayers and a World Peace Flag Ceremony, where each country’s flag received prayers for peace. The event included the recitation of The Nuclear Prayer by Bishop Swing and was attended by over 150 participants, both in person and via Zoom.
NORTH AMERICA
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
URI Cooperation Circle: MultiFaith Association of South Australia
Location: Southeast Asia and Pacific
FoodFaith CC celebrated IDP with an interfaith gathering in Adelaide, South Australia. The event focused on seasonal food, cultural and faith discussions, composting, and a garden tour highlighting the importance of local food cycles. The celebration fostered connections and harmony between different faiths through food customs and sustainability practices.
FoodFaith: Fertile Common Ground | Judith Friedlander | TEDxNorthernSydneyInstitute
