Guterres calls for ‘culture of peace’ and global solidarity as crisis mounts
Speaking at the annual Peace Bell Ceremony, António Guterres warned that war is spreading, inequality is rising and new technologies are being used as weapons without safeguards.
“International organizations must be better positioned to respond.,” He stress.
The Secretary-General’s call comes at a pivotal moment for global cooperation.
Later this month, world leaders will gather to Summit of the Futurea landmark event to address pressing challenges affecting human rights, climate change and security, military technology – and efforts to get Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Development Goals) are back on track.
“We have an opportunity to change…in short, we must ‘build a culture of peace’,” he stressed.
International Peace Day
That is also the theme of this year, Mr. Guterres continued. International Day of Peacewill be held on September 21.
“That is why all of us, who are devoted to peace and justice, must unite, today and every day. – through the Future Summit and beyond,” he said.
Establish On the International Day in 1981, the General Assembly declared that the day should be dedicated to celebrating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among nations and peoples.
Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly continued designated International Day is a time for non-violence; a call for a worldwide ceasefire.
Working for tolerance
Speaking at the ceremony, Philémon Yang, President of the 79th session of the General Assembly, stressed the need to restore trust and solidarity among nations.
He noted that conflicts and crises are on the rise — from Ukraine and Gaza to Sudan, Myanmar, Haiti and elsewhere — and added that people are “desperately searching for a ray of hope”.
“Today let us ring the Peace Bell and send a message of hope for peace. Let us move towards tolerance and dialogue.“, he urged.
In doing so, we can also accelerate progress towards sustainable development and ensure full respect for the human dignity of everyone, everywhere, he added.
A view of the Peace Bell at the United Nations Headquarters, in New York.
The bell rang.
The ceremony included the traditional ringing of the Peace Bell, which was cast in the 1950s from coins and medals donated by people around the world, including the Pope, as a symbol of hope for peace.
The bell is rung twice a year: on the first day of spring, on the vernal equinox, and to celebrate International Day of Peace.
The Peace Bell is also rung on other special occasions, such as April 26, 2011 to mark 25 years since the devastating Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident.
