On the International Day of Peace, 21 September
A Salute to the Peacemakers, But…!
Amidst the outbreak of non-ending conflicts and wars which have a lot of repercussions and impacts on the world and on all levels, many initiatives are made for peace building.
Here comes a question: is there any outcome for peace initiatives? is it possible to achieve peace despite all obstacles? In fact, answers remain ambiguous, but it is certain that efforts need support and an international solidarity, in order to achieve results.
More needed work than expected is required towards the desired peace. This can be done through facing all types of racism and discrimination, promoting tolerance and rejecting violence, hate speech and intolerance. Hopefully, decision-makers and political parties may listen to their people and learn from their initiatives and endeavors! Participation of official parties is also essential in the path towards peace, in order to end conflicts and wars peacefully.
In its turn, the United Nations is playing the necessary role in raising its voice and awareness, but its voice can hardly be heard with the absence of common international vision and field work. In this context, the United Nations designated in the global calendar an International Day of Peace. It is not new, as the whole world celebrates it on 21 September of each year and since decades.
24 Hours of Non-Violence and Cease-Fire
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 when it was officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, which emphasized in its resolution the need to promote peace and reduce tensions and causes of conflicts. It also considered this International Day as an opportunity to stop violence and wars all over the world and thus raise the necessary awareness for peace building. This day is a call for all countries to end hostilities and celebrate it by education, awareness, and cooperation with the United Nations to achieve a global ceasefire.
Hence, the UN also called for peace celebration through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. At the same time, UN considered that “achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish”, in a world that respects equality regardless the race, religions and civilizations…
End Racism. Build Peace
The United Nations chose the 2022 theme for the International Day of Peace “End racism. Build peace.” It invites all people to join its journey and efforts to eliminate racism, discrimination and hate speech… and thus raise awareness on this mission through education and emphasizing the importance of justice among all people. Therefore, the UN stresses the need for concerted efforts to create a more merciful world full of love and solidarity.
This year, the United Nations celebrated the International Day of Peace on 16 September at its headquarters in New York. During the celebration, the Secretary-General and President of the General Assembly rang the Peace Bell in the Peace Garden. The celebration also provided an opportunity for more than 500 youth to raise their voices and interact with the Secretary-General and high-profile artists and activists, in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber. They also presented projects explaining the action they have taken to combat racism and promote peace.
On the occasion, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a speech in which he warned against the “poison of war” that is threatening people’s lives. He said, “The poison of war is infecting our world… turning people against each other, pitting nation against nation, eroding security and wellbeing, [and] reversing development. It is also pushing our shared goals for the future, farther and farther away.”
He also stressed the need of peace building, which is the UN’s primary mission. But he emphasized that “the task of building peace belongs to every person”, and called for work to achieve peace for the youth and new generations. He also reminded the need for “global solidarity, collective action, commitment, and mutual trust, now more than ever.”
Towards Peace Building
Within the context of peace awareness, the International Alert organization mentioned that peace building requires many actions. Everyone should live in a safe environment without fear or violence, with equality before the law, which must be effective in protecting people’s rights, in the light of reliable justice systems. This is in addition to the participation of every person in the political decision making, thus the government should also be responsible towards citizens. Noting that everyone should have a fair and equal access to their basic needs, as well as equal employment opportunities.
Another Day of Peace for Churches?
On the other hand, the family of Catholic Churches celebrates the World Day of Peace on the first of each January, as a new beginning that requires justice and peace in order to preserve human dignity. The name of Jesus means "God who saves us from our sins", He Himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14), and the source of true peace in the heart of every human. Hence, Pope St. Paul VI, dedicated the first day of every new year as the World Day of Peace, which is celebrated annually since 1967.
On the occasion of the 55th International Day of Peace 2022, His Holiness Pope Francis delivered his message entitled “Dialogue Between Generations, Education and Work: Tools for Building Lasting Peace”. He began his message saying, “Today the path of peace, which Saint Paul VI called by the new name of integral development, remains sadly distant from the real lives of many men and women and thus from our human family, which is now entirely interconnected. Despite numerous efforts aimed at constructive dialogue between nations, the deafening noise of war and conflict is intensifying. While diseases of pandemic proportions are spreading, the effects of climate change and environmental degradation are worsening, the tragedy of hunger and thirst is increasing, and an economic model based on individualism rather than on solidary sharing continues to prevail.”
The Pope talked three segments, Dialogue between generations to build peace, Teaching and education as drivers of peace, Creating and ensuring labour builds peace. He proposed “three paths for building a lasting peace. First, dialogue between generations as the basis for the realization of shared projects. Second, education as a factor of freedom, responsibility and development. Finally, labour as a means for the full realization of human dignity. These are three indispensable elements for making possible the creation of a social covenant, without which every project of peace turns out to be insubstantial.”
Finally, it is worth noting that the Middle East Council of Churches has sought, since its establishment, to build bridges between the various components of society, to bridge distances between them and to promote dialogue for peace building, towards more stable societies. As well as, MECC is, till today, listening to the concerns and pain stories of the Middle East people. Therefore, it implements many service and relief programs to heal their wounds and alleviate their misery. Moreover, all MECC programs in the fields of media, theology, education and dialogue have dimensions that encourage dialogue and harmony among all groups and people.
The MECC General Assembly convened under the slogan “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14: 27), between 16 and 20 May 2022 at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, and urged in its final statement the promotion of peace in many fields. Thus, the General Assembly called for renouncing violence and fanaticism of all kinds and forms, rejecting extremism, terrorism, exclusion and discrimination based on religion, race, color, gender... Solidarity with the marginalized and vulnerable, refugees and displaced persons… Respecting the freedom of belief, consolidating the values of citizenship and a common life with the Muslim brothers with whom we share a mutual respect… The Assembly also urged officials and decision-makers to work hard to address the crises rampant in the various countries of our Middle East region, especially the deteriorating economic situation…
Communication and Public Relations Department