International Day of Peace (21 September 2003)

21 September 2003 is the second International Day of Peace. The United Nations General Assembly decided (in resolution 55/282) on 7 September 2001 that, beginning in 2002, the International Day of Peace should be observed on 21 September each year. The Assembly declared that the Day be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the International Day of Peace. It invited all UN member states, organisations of the United Nations system, regional and non-governmental organisations and individuals to commemorate the Day in an appropriate manner, including through education and public awareness, and to cooperate with the United Nations in establishing a global ceasefire.

(Source: UN Department of Public Information)

News

Annan rings Peace Bell, marking International Day of Peace 2003 (19 September 2003)
UN celebrates first International Day of Peacekeepers (29 May 2003)
Israel accepts Middle East peace plan (25 May 2003)
UN Palestinian rights committee welcomes road map peace plan (7 May 2003)
Stronger roles for women in peace process and refugee camps, urges High Commissioner for Refugees (23 January 2003)
Launch of UN study on disarmament and non-proliferation education (2 October 2002)
Message from Kofi Annan on International Peace Day 2002 (21 September 2002)
UN official says International Day of Peace needed now more than ever (23 September 2002)

Useful links

United Nations International Day of Peace 2003 site

International Day of Peace Vigil

International Day of Peace 2003 (Pathway to Peace)

United Nations Cyberschoolbus

International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence (2001-2010)

Courses and trainings on peace, peace building

Selected learning materials

For teachers
Opening the Door to Nonviolence. Peace Education Manual for Primary School Children
This comprehensive teacher manual was designed by the Croation NGO Mali Korak ("Small Step"). The manual was used with children in schools and refugee camps in multiethnic settings, at the end of the conflict.

Tolerance: the threshold of peace. A teaching/learning guide for peace, human rights and democracy (UNESCO)
This is a resource document with exemplary programmes, lesson plans and teaching units that can be used by classroom teachers, teacher educators, community leaders, parents, youth and social workers.

For health professionals
Psychology-humanrights-l Forum is the International Peace Practitioners Network Internet discussion group on Psychology and Human Rights--a joint project of Psychologists for Social Responsibility and the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence: Peace Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association.

Other International Days