Established in 1981, the United Nations-sanctioned International Day of Peace, or World Peace Day, is a holiday observed around the world on September 21 each year. The 2022 theme is “End racism. Build peace.” To that end, the General Assembly has dedicated this day to observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

Secretary-General António Guterres says, “But achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms.  It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race.

“Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality and it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”

People continue to flee across borders as conflicts erupt around the world, accompanied by race-based discrimination such as hate speech and violence. “We can work to dismantle the structures that entrench racism in our midst. We can support movements for equality and human rights everywhere. We can speak out against hate speech, both offline and online. We can promote anti-racism through education and reparatory justice,” says Guterres.