Since the beginning of the 20th Century, the World has been hit with a tumult of war, claiming lives, property, and displacing huge numbers of people. The 21st Century has witnessed the same, war in Ukraine and Gaza has been the center of global politics.
No wonder, the United Nations General Assembly declared in a resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom and Costa Rica, the International Day of Peace on 21st September to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace.
Experts say the formation of community is a veritable tool to achieve peace, in view of this, the convener of Rivers Peace Initiative, Obinna Ebogidi who spoke on the theme of this year’s observance, ‘Act Now for a Peaceful World” explained that peace could be achieved by conscious efforts by all and sundry.
“Our community would become peaceful when people feel heard, when grievances are addressed through dialogue, and when leaders and followers resist the temptation of reckless words and divisive actions.
Every member of the society has a role. Our elders must pick wisdom into our conversations. Our youths should channel their energy not into online toxicity but into constructive advocacy”, he noted.
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The CEO Dispute Resolution Academy, Dr. Gbenga Gbarada mentioned Climate change, immigration, ethnicity, and religion as triggers of conflict in the world.
“Anywhere there is corruption peace would be eliminated. We have deforestation, we have pollution, cyber warfare and surveillance in nations they also constitute setbacks to peace,” he stressed.
The United Nations is the organization saddled with the responsibility of making and maintaining peace across the world.
Against this backdrop, a scholar of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mr. Andrew Ajayi explained the role of the global body in establishing institutions that prevent conflict.
“So the United Nations can bring peace in the world as it were by sending parties ahead to talk to the leadership of conflicting or warring countries with the view of extracting commitment from them as to maintaining peace. The United Nations has a charter that contains some articles that talked about peace,” he emphasised.
The day is commemorated by participating in twenty-four hours ceasefire, organizing a peace themed events like film night, concerts, among others.
