The International Day of Peace started 27 years ago. Its purpose, as stated in the original United Nations General Assembly resolution, is:

"[...T]o devote a specific time to concentrate the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States, as well as of the whole of mankind, to promoting the ideals of peace and to giving positive evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways... [The International Day of Peace] should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples."