During the annual Peace Bell ceremony, António Guterres warned that war is spreading, inequality is increasing and new technologies are being weaponised without any protection.
“International institutions must be better able to respond to this,” He stressed.
The Secretary-General’s call comes on the eve of a crucial moment for global cooperation.
Later this month, world leaders will gather for the Top of the futurea landmark event aimed at addressing pressing challenges affecting human rights, climate change and security, military technology – and efforts to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track.
“We have a chance for change…in short, we must ‘cultivate a culture of peace’,” he stressed.
International Peace Day
That, Mr Guterres continued, is also the theme of this year. International Day of Peacewhich is celebrated on September 21.
“It is a cause that we who support peace and justice must rally behind today and every day. – through the Summit of the Future and beyond,” he said.
To establish During the International Day in 1981, the General Assembly declared that this day should be dedicated to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all countries and peoples.
Twenty years later, in 2001, the General Assembly further assigned the International Day as a day of nonviolence; a call for worldwide ceasefires.
Work for tolerance
Also speaking at the ceremony was Philemon Yang, President of the 79th Session of the General Assembly, who stressed the need to restore trust and solidarity among countries.
He noted that there are increasing conflicts and crises – from Ukraine and Gaza to Sudan, Myanmar, Haiti and elsewhere – adding that people “desperately looking for a glimmer of hope“.
“Today let us ring the Peace Bell and send a message of hope for peace. Let’s work on tolerance and dialogue“, he insisted.
In doing so, we can also accelerate progress towards sustainable development and ensure that the human dignity of everyone, everywhere, is universally respected, he added.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe
A view of the Peace Bell at the UN headquarters in New York.
Bell rings
The Peace Bell was traditionally rung during the ceremony. This bell was cast in the 1950s from coins and medals donated by people from all over 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, at the vernal equinox and in commemoration of the International Day of Peace.
The Peace Bell was also rung on other special occasions, such as on April 26, 2011, to mark the 25th anniversary of the devastating accident at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor.
