Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.
The Day’s theme for 2016 is “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.”
In the last 25 years, UN Volunteers have served in more than 50 UN missions in over 30 countries, supporting peace processes in war-torn societies and countries in complex political transition around the world. UN Volunteers help rebuild the social fabric in post-conflict communities, raise awareness on human rights, accompany the victims of violence in seeking justice, and support the healing process.
As of December 2015, 2,321 UN Volunteers were serving in missions of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, 139 in missions of the UN Department of Political Affairs, and 64 served in emergency health missions, supporting the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response. Read about some of these committed volunteers below:
- Improving the lives of communities
- UNIC, UNV and ACCORD mark International Day of Peace with students in Pretoria
- The meaning of empathy and resilience
- Volunteering for Peace: Empowering young volunteers as actors for peace in Colombia
- Volunteerism building blocks for peace: Burundi and Sudan
- Shifting perspectives for peace: Citizen inclusion in Asia and the Pacific