Days Until International Day of Peace

About International Day of Peace

September 21 was established by the United Nations in 1981 and is dedicated to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and ceasefire, symbolically marked by the ringing of the Peace Bell at UN Headquarters in New York.

Since 2001, the day has specifically been dedicated to global ceasefire and non-violence, a status formalized by unanimous UN General Assembly resolution that year.

The UN Peace Bell itself was cast from coins donated by children from many countries and was a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan, adding a specific, tangible object to a day otherwise built around abstract ideals.

Since 2001, the day has also been marked by the "Peace One Day" campaign founded by filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, whose advocacy directly contributed to the UN's decision that year to formalize the day around global ceasefire and non-violence.