The International Day of Peace celebrated annually on September 21, each year, is devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. The theme for the 2024 observance is “Cultivating a Culture of Peace”.
It should be recognised that peace is not only is the absence of conflict, but also requires a positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.
The right way to commemorate this auspicious day is to reflect on the challenges the world peace is faced with and come up with innovative and creative solutions to make this world a better place for our succeeding generations. The most immediate threats to global peace emanate from mainly climate change and racism; as well as from presence of poverty, denial of democratic and political rights and yawning gap between haves and have-nots.
Many of today’s problems derive from the fact that the world in which we live is rapidly becoming one world. Mankind must inevitably learn to live close together in intimate contact with each other. In other words, they must become a true brotherhood.
The goal of peace can be advanced through collaborative approach, which is inclusive and participatory in nature. This requires many adjustments.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seek to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, as well as equitable access to the fundamental rights and freedoms that all human beings need to thrive.
At the domestic level, the International Day of Peace is an opportunity to remind our minds, our hearts and our actions of the need to create a culture of peace, especially at a time when we are faced with the tensions associated with the forthcoming general election, with its hate speech, intolerance, and much more.
Asserting them requires all political party leaders to commit to peaceful and respectful language and to educate voters about the electoral process and the importance of peaceful participation. It is also the responsibility of engaging respected personalities from various religions and communities to promote messages of peace, to spread peaceful messages through the media, emphasizing the importance of respecting different political points of view and the consequences of violence and hatred. All this can set a positive tone and reducing tensions.
Elections and the promotion of peace are closely linked to the strengthening of the democratic process. Free, fair and peaceful elections allow citizens to express their will without fear of violence or coercion. This strengthens the legitimacy of elected leaders and establishes confidence in institutions and encourages participation in good governance. When elections are conducted peacefully, it fosters a culture of dialogue and compromise, which is essential to maintaining a stable and functional democracy.
Democratic systems promote peace by providing mechanisms to promote political inclusion, respect the rule of law and resolve conflicts in a non-violent manner. When citizens have a say in good governance through elections, they are more likely to trust the system, which reduces the likelihood of disturbance or mistrust.
Creating a culture of peace requires time, education and efforts to maintain it and pass it on to the next generation. Promoting peace during an election campaign is essential to ensure a fair, free and inclusive process.
To attain the objectives set for our ambition for ‘Cultivating a Culture of Peace’ and the SDGs, the adoption of dialogue, accommodation and respect for dissent lays the necessary foundation to empower communities and people to join their forces for the shared wellbeing of humanity.
It also means that investments need to be made in areas of fighting poverty, hunger, unemployment, building human resources, enhancing people’s access to education and justice, reducing gender disparities and population growth, ending violence, and putting in place sustainable structures to spearhead dialogue among followers of different cultures and religions.
While celebrating the International Day of Peace, we must make a vow to leave no stone unturned to make this world a place worth living in. It calls for redoubling of our efforts. Failure in this context is not an option any more.
May this Day of Peace awaken our awareness and consolidate our commitment to the urgent need for collective and daily efforts, through our voices and actions to promote peace, justice and tolerance, especially towards those who have opposing views and who think otherwise.
Bashir Nuckchady
