‘We are not helpless’: UN chief urges world leaders to invest in peace

“Achieving peace is not something that just happens,” the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a message for Monday International Day of Peace. “It is a joint and firm choice to invest for a better future.”

Invest in peace is this year’s theme, reflecting the founding principles of the United Nations, founded in the ashes of the Second World War.

As world leaders gather at UN Headquarters for the annual event High Level WeekGuterres called on them to strengthen diplomacy, dialogue, mediation and peacekeeping operations as important tools prevent and resolve conflicts.

It is true, peace – an essential resource for human development – ​​remains elusive in many parts of the world as the scale and complexity of conflict increases, he said.

Watch the UN Secretary General’s full message here:

‘We have to talk to each other’

At an event marking the day in UN Center in NairobiKenya, young people are getting involved.

Pointing to “something that does not help maintain peace”, Benedict Wambuya, an agriculture and technology student at Jomo Kenyatta University, reflected on the recent deadly crackdown within the country, as young people feel their rights are being violated by state authorities.

“As a younger generation, we are almost never involved in peace discussions around the worldhe said. “We are not participating enough in maintaining peace around the world. We must seek to understand our leaders, unite, cooperate, and maintain peace.”

Benedict Kioko, a Kenyatta University student, agrees.

“For peace to last, there must be mutual understanding,” he said. “We have to talk to each other so we can reach an understanding. Often peace is disturbed due to a lack of dialogue or understanding between two different parties.”

Festus Musau, a student at the Kenya Technical University, said “everything has to do with peace.”

“For peace to flourish in a country,” he said, “it must start with each individual.”

Crossing the border

Many societies around the world face violence and division as conflicts spread across national borders.

Faced with this, finding solutions is a challenge, with international solidarity weakening, said the UN Secretary General.

Lasting peace needs to be built through inclusive societies, sustainable development and respect for human rights.

Watch the intergenerational Circle of Peace hosted by the UN today:

‘We are not helpless’

“Around the world, people are showing that we are not powerless,” he said. “Volunteers, advocates, civil society leaders, peacekeepers and peacemakers bridge gaps, unite communities and encourage dialogue. they build peace from the bottom up.”

These grassroots efforts show that peace can only be achieved if deliberate decisions are made to invest in a better future, he said.

How does the UN invest in peace?

The UN is mandated by its 193 Member States to help countries prevent, resolve and recover from conflict.

From diplomacy and peacekeeping missions to working with communities to foster peace, effort started right at the beginning of the founding of the UN.

Here are some examples:

Peacekeeping and peacebuilding: Since 1948, the UN Security Council has deployed more than 70 missions worldwide. Currently, 11 peacekeeping missions are in operation. Learn more about the extensive work of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Here.

Peace Circle: On Monday, the U.N Listen to Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World This campaign brings the voices and contributions of young people into an upcoming independent progress study on how young people contribute to peace, by a Peace Circle incident.

Peaceful world activation: From September 14 to 26 (International Day for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons), the UN ActNow Initiative helps connect audiences with information and opportunities to take action, including through its mobile app partner, Through A World.

But, can the UN stop the war? Watch our explanation:

Learn more about UN peace efforts Here.