Doha: The world observes the International Day of Peace every September 21, an occasion designated by the United Nations to reiterate its commitment to the principles of peace, repudiate violence, and promote dialogue, understanding and cooperation among peoples and nations. This comes at a time when the need is growing to address the causes of conflicts and invest in conditions that enable communities to achieve stability and development.
According to Qatar News Agency, this year's observance comes under the theme, "Invest in Peace - For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day" underscoring that peace isn't merely the absence of war, but an all-encompassing environment built on security, dignity, opportunity and cooperation that requires sustained political, economic and social investment. The United Nations stresses that peace is an essential foundation for collectively addressing the challenges facing humanity. Against this backdrop, the substance of this year's message takes on particular importance as crises and conflicts continue in different parts of the world, leaving humanitarian and socioeconomic fallout in their wake.
Since the occasion was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Nov. 30, 1981, the United Nations has continued to focus each year on peacebuilding efforts and call on governments, organizations, communities and individuals to help consolidate a culture of dialogue, tolerance, respect for diversity and human rights, and to make the occasion a global clamor for ceasefires and the rejection of violence in all ongoing conflicts. Meanwhile, the United Nations emphasizes in its message for this day that the concept of peace goes beyond the mere absence of war to encompass safety, dignity, opportunity and cooperation in daily life.
In his message marking this day, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out that peace isn't made only at conference tables, but also in classrooms, neighborhoods and everywhere people meet with open minds and hearts, calling for day-to-day efforts to build a more just world grounded in compassion, equality and dignity for all. In this context, the importance of investing in peace stands out as a long-term process encompassing support for dialogue, strengthening the rule of law, protecting human rights, providing access to education, employment and basic services, and addressing inequalities that can contribute to the emergence of tensions and conflicts.
Achieving enduring peace is also tied to addressing the root causes of conflicts rather than merely dealing with their consequences after they erupt, making conflict prevention, mediation and dialogue essential tools in international efforts to advance peace. Meanwhile, international actors are reemphasizing that peacebuilding is a responsibility that doesn't fall on any one party, but rather requires the combined efforts of states, international and regional organizations, civil society, educational and media institutions, local communities and individuals.
The United Nations' role in supporting mediation efforts, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance is also gaining prominence at a time when peacekeeping operations face challenges stemming from intractable conflicts and the need for enduring resources and political support. The United Nations has affirmed that investing in peacekeeping is part of investing in a more secure future. As part of this, the concept of investing in peace has taken on dimensions that go beyond direct spending on peacekeeping operations or political mediation. It includes investing in people, communities and institutions, as well as in education, health, poverty reduction and expanded employment opportunities-factors that can bolster communities' ability to withstand crises.
According to specialists in security and peace issues, peace is closely intertwined with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 16 on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Regarding the foremost challenges facing efforts to prevent conflicts and resolve disputes, international relations expert and consultant Dr. Ahmed Ghaith Al Kuwari, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the problem lies not so much in the absence of peace tools as in the lack of political will to use them at the right time.
Dr. Al Kuwari remarked that the world spends lavish sums managing the consequences of conflicts, while far less is spent politically or economically on preventing their causes. Therefore, investing in diplomacy doesn't simply mean holding negotiations after war breaks out, it also means building enduring channels of communication and figuring out the grievances, interests and fears that gave rise to a conflict before they turn into weapons, he pointed out. Dr. Al-Kuwari applauded Qatar's mediation experience in various conflicts, which had demonstrated that keeping channels of communication open even under the most difficult circumstances can create an opportunity that didn't exist on the ground.
For his part, Dr. Hassan Al Haj Ali, a professor of political science at Lusail University, stated to QNA that entrenching the concept of peace within the institutions of the family, school and community is achieved through the daily conduct modeled by those who lead these institutions, including through discussions of issues they raise and reconciling the views that emerge from those discussions. He added that educational institutions can contribute through the curricula they offer, including courses on a culture of peace, while encouraging research and deliberations that reinforce this culture and offering academic awards aimed at advancing a culture of peace.