International Decade for the Culture of Peace (2001-2010)

At the eve of a new millennium, a proliferation of regional, local, ethnic, religious and civil conflicts and terrorism around the world emphasizes the need for a global transition from a culture of war to a culture of peace. However, peace is more than the absence of war. Peace demands an enduring commitment to sharing a country’s assets, while transcending particular and localized interest. While it is essential to cooperate with civil society in putting a culture of peace in place, governments must take the lead.

In order to draw attention to the challenges and issues of the culture of peace, and to encourage international action, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) first proclaimed the year 2000 to be the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 1997 and subsequently, on November 10 1998, proclaimed the period 2001-2010 as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World. The focus of the year and decade will be to promote the implementation of a culture of peace at local, national, regional and international levels and to ensure that governments will be world leaders.

The UNGA has invited the Secretary-General to submit a report and a programme of action to promote the Decade at its fifty-fifth session in September 2000. Further information on the Decade will be added to this site as we approach the year 2001.

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