International peace day
- Sometimes officially known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed annually on 21 September.
- It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access.
- This year's theme is Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world.
- The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly.
- This day was is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and people.
- To inaugurate the day, the United Nations Peace Bell is rung at UN Headquarters (in New York City).
- The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents except Africa, and was a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan, as ""a reminder of the human cost of war""; the inscription on its side reads, ""Long live absolute world peace"".
- Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.