International Day of Non-Violence
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Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
61/271. International Day of Non-ViolenceThe General Assembly,
Reaffirming the Charter of the United Nations, including the principles and purposes contained therein,
Recalling its resolutions 53/243 A and B of 13 September 1999, containing the Declaration on a Culture of Peace and the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, 55/282 of 7 September 2001 on the International Day of Peace and 61/45 of 4 December 2006 on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non- Violence for the Children of the World, 2001–2010, as well as other relevant resolutions,
Bearing in mind that non-violence, tolerance, full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, democracy, development, mutual understanding and respect for diversity are interlinked and mutually reinforcing,
Reaffirming the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence, and desiring to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence,
1. Decides, with effect from the sixty-second session of the General Assembly and guided by the Charter of the United Nations, to observe the International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October each year, with the International Day being brought to the attention of all people for its celebration and observance on this date;
2. Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, regional and non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate the International Day of Non-Violence in an appropriate manner and to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to recommend ways and means by which the United Nations system and the United Nations Secretariat could, within existing resources, assist Member States, upon request, in organizing activities to commemorate the International Day of Non-Violence;
4. Also requests the Secretary-General to take necessary measures, within existing resources, for the observance by the United Nations of the International Day of Non-Violence;
5. Further requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly informed at its sixty-third session of the implementation of the present resolution, within the United Nations system, as regards the observance of the International Day of Non-Violence.103rd plenary meeting
15 June 2007"There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for."
Mahatma Gandhi
The International Day of Non-Violence is marked on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence".
Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, said that the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mahatma Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy. Quoting the late leader’s own words, he said: "Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man".Secretary-General's Message on the International Day of Non-Violence, 2 October 2009
Mahatma Gandhi, whose legacy this annual observance celebrates, once observed that “non-violence, to be worth anything, has to work in the face of hostile forces”. In today’s world, we face many hostile forces -- multiple and persistent crises that demand a response from leaders and grass roots alike.
Gandhi understood that a powerful idea could change the world. He knew that individuals, working alone and together, could realize what others might dismiss as impossible dreams. Inspired by Gandhi’s life of non-violence, the United Nations today works to end violence.
We strive, for example, to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction. Our recent WMD campaign -- we must disarm -- sought to raise awareness about the high cost of weapons of mass destruction. Recent initiatives and meetings, including last week’s Security Council summit on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, have improved prospects for reductions in global arsenals. We must sustain this momentum, and press for success at next year’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference and beyond.
The call to non-violence need not apply only to the use of deadly weapons. The United Nations and its grass-roots partners have long campaigned to stop the human assault on our planet. Greenhouse gas emissions have been part of this onslaught, and now threaten catastrophic climate change. I urge activists everywhere to turn up the heat on world leaders to seal a deal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December.
The appalling violence inflicted on women and girls throughout the world must also be at the centre of our concerns. An estimated 150 million women and girls are victimized each year. Rape is increasingly widespread as a weapon of war. Victims of sexual coercion are more likely to suffer sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. I urge all partners to join my UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, which aims to raise awareness and funds to fight this problem in all parts of the world -- since no country is immune.
On this International Day, let us celebrate -- and embody -- the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi by heeding his call for a movement of non-violence. Let us end violence in all its manifestations, and strengthen our collective work for a safer, greener and more peaceful world.Ban Ki-moon
Message from H.E. Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, President of the UN General Assembly
The choice of this date was fitting, it being the birth date of Mahatma Gandhi, who is recognized the world over as a symbol of non-violence - inspiring individuals and peoples to seek their rights, resist colonialism, foreign rule, prejudice and racism through peaceful means.
In its resolution 61/271, the General Assembly acknowledged that “non-violence, tolerance, full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, democracy, development, mutual understanding and respect for diversity are interlinked and mutually reinforcing”.
By promoting these values, by fostering a culture of peace, tolerance and non-violence, we can not only counter those who seek to incite a clash of civilizations, but also equip ourselves better to collectively address the multiple challenges with which we are confronted today. This can ease inter-religious and cross-cultural tensions and help overcome complex and deep-rooted hostilities and rivalries that threaten peace and impede development. The United Nations is best placed to harmonize this effort.
I believe we also need to address the root causes which often lead to violence and conflict. We need to promote human rights, justice, equality, social progress and respect for law. Along with non-violence and dialogue, these universal values are part of all religious and secular beliefs and systems. In the preamble of the UN Charter, we the peoples, committed “to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours” and “to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security” and to ensure that “armed force shall not be used, save in common interest”. For the maintenance of international peace and security, I believe the essence of the Charter is in the provisions related to “pacific settlement of disputes”, which we should promote fully in the context of non-violence.
In Gandhi’s own words:
“Non-violence is a power which can be wielded equally by all - children, young men and women or grown-up people- provided they have a living faith in the God of Love and have, therefore, equal love for all mankind”.Introduction
In 60 years, the United Nations, its specialized agencies and staff were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize ten times. One agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees received the famous prize twice. Two Secretaries-General, Kofi Annan and Dag Hammarskjold were honoured as well by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for their work. The latest awardee, Mohamed ElBaradei declared upon learning that he was the 2005 recipient of the prize “I think the prize would strengthen my resolve and that of my colleagues to continue to speak the truth to power, to continue to speak our minds. We have no hidden agenda except to ensure that our world continues to be safe and humane”.
"For one hundred years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to strengthen organized cooperation between states. The end of the cold war has at last made it possible for the U.N. to perform more fully the part it was originally intended to play. Today the organization is at the forefront of efforts to achieve peace and security in the world, and of the international mobilization aimed at meeting the world's economic, social and environmental challenges....[The] Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes in its centenary year to proclaim that the only negotiable route to global peace and cooperation goes by way of the United Nations".Fuentes:
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/510/63/PDF/N0651063.pdf?OpenElement
http://www.un.org/en/events/nonviolenceday/index.shtml
http://www.un.org/en/events/nonviolenceday/sg_message_2009.shtml
http://www.un.org/en/events/nonviolenceday/ga_president_message_2009.shtml
http://www.un.org/aboutun/nobelprize/index.shtml
