21 September 2011 is the eleventh 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.

The International Day of Peace is generally observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. The theme for this year’s International Day of Peace 2011 is Make Your Voice Heard. This year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has requested that there will be a Minute of Silence at Noon in All Time Zones Worldwide.

(Sources: UN Department of Public Information)

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.

Useful links

International Day of Peace

United Nations International Day of Peace 2010 site

International Day of Peace Vigil

United Network of Young Peacebuilders

Pathways to Peace

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

Courses and trainings on peace, peace building, peace education

Armed Conflict, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

Introduction to Human Rights Education