SDGs for global peace
Since 1981, the International Day of Peace is yearly observed around the world on 21 September. In 1981, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared this day as a day dedicated to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire. Since then
The theme for 2016 is “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.”
The 193 Member States of the UN unanimously adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at an historic summit of the world's leaders in New York in September 2015. The new ambitious 2030 agenda calls on countries to initiate efforts to achieve these goals over the next 15 years. The objectives of the SDGs are to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.
According to the UN, the 17 SDGs are integral to achieving peace in our time, as development and peace are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
On the eve of observing the International Day of Peace, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon comments “the 17 SDGs are our shared vision of humanity and a social contract between the world's leaders and the people. They are a to-do list for people and planet, and a blueprint for success.”
Sustainability addresses the fundamental needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Modern challenges of poverty, hunger, diminishing natural resources, water scarcity, social inequality, environmental degradation, diseases, corruption, racism and xenophobia, among others, pose challenges for peace and create fertile grounds for conflict. Sustainable development contributes decisively to dissipation and elimination of these causes of conflict and provides the foundation for a lasting peace. Peace, meanwhile, reinforces the conditions for sustainable development and liberates the resources needed for societies to develop and prosper.
Every single one of the 17 SDGs is a building block in the global architecture of peace. It is critical that we mobilise means of implementation, including financial resources, technology development and transfer, and capacity-building, as well as the role of partnerships. Everyone has a stake and everyone has a contribution to make.
On 16 September 2016 morning, the Secretary-General inagurated the celebration of the day in the Peace Garden at UN Headquarters by ringing the Peace Bell and observing a minute of silence. Women Nobel Peace Prize laureates and the UN Messengers of Peace were invited to participate in the ceremony. The UN Education Outreach Section arranged a global student video conference on the same day, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., also at UN Headquarters.
Compiled by Law Desk (SOURCE: INTERNATIONALDAYOFPEACE.ORG).