The International Day of Peace was established by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 1981 and was celebrated on the Third Tuesday in September. In September 2001, and after the efforts of Jeremy Gilley and the Peace One Day organization, the United Nations, with the leadership of Great Britain and Costa Rica, passed another resolution identifying September 21st as the official day of global peace and as Ceasefire Day. The resolution took effect September 21st 2002 amidst a world embroiled in constant war and turmoil. The first anniversary of the new peace day passed without anyone observing a ceasefire. Since then, however, more governments, countries, groups, businesses, and individuals are celebrating the day in their cities and homes.
The vast majority of war victims are women and children and there are currently at least 45 conflicts in progress around the world.
It is thanks to the efforts of Jeremy Gilley and his volunteers, efforts that spanned years and countless hours of travel, work, filming, and meetings with heads of state and United Nations officials that the day is being observed on a designated date.
According to Ahmad Fawzi, the UN Director of News and Media at the time, people should be patient and not feel discouraged that there were no ceasefire observances on the first anniversary of Ceasefire Day. The seed has been planted and it grows slowly through interviews, lectures, books, peace rallies, informational meetings, press releases, and one person and group at a time. Per Fawzi's words, we have to change our global culture from a culture of war to one of peace and that begins with every one of us.
Gilley captures his journey, the challenges, the hopes, and the process in a movie called PEACE ONE DAY. The world today seems more violent since September 11th, 2001, ironically the day that Ceasefire Day was to be announced by Kofi Annan when the two airplanes struck the World Trade Center.
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