On Friday, September 16, United Nations marked the 41st International Day for Peace by hosting the annual Peace Bell Ceremony.


In 1981, the UN General Assembly declared September 21 as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. But this year, as the conflicts rage through the world, the UN observed the day earlier.


Ringing the bell was Hungarian diplomat Csaba Korosi, the new president of the General Assembly. In his speech on the grounds of the UN headquarters in New York where the ceremony took place, he warned that global peace is in danger.


“There are more armed conflicts in the world than any time since the end of the Cold War,” he said. “All that is a stark reminder that peace can always be threatened, and no nation can take it for granted.”


UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also spoke during the ceremony. “As we meet today, peace is under assault,” he told the media. “The poison of war is infecting our world.”


The UN Chief says that conflicts push the world farther away from the shared goals. Instead of fighting each other on the battlefield, humanity should be rallying together to tackle the common challenges – poverty, hunger, inequality, racism, and pressing issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.


“Now more than ever, we need global solidarity, collective action, commitment, and mutual trust. It starts here – and it starts now,” said Guterres, “Let us sound the call for a world of peace for all people.”



ETB NEWS: Yi Pan, Meixing Ren Contributed to this article.

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