Message from UN Secretary‑General António Guterres on the International Day of Peace – 2026

As we mark the International Day of Peace, we face a world where this vital asset is in dangerously short supply. 

Communities are shaken by violence and division. 

Conflicts are growing in scale and complexity, spilling across borders and inflicting enormous suffering. 

Dialogue is faltering, solutions are elusive and global solidarity is missing in action. 

But around the world, people are showing that we are not powerless. 

Volunteers, advocates, civil society leaders, peacekeepers and peacemakers are bridging divides, uniting communities and pushing for dialogue. 

Action by action, they are building peace from the ground up.  

Like this year’s theme — “Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day” — these champions of peace are showing us that achieving peace is not passive or automatic.

It’s an active and deliberate choice to invest in a better future.  

By building inclusive communities where peace can take hold. 

By investing in sustainable development — in people’s health, education, nutrition and social protection. 

By bridging divides and ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. 

By safeguarding the human rights and dignity that belong to every person. 

And by strengthening the proven tools of peace — diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation and peacekeeping. 

On this International Day of Peace, let us all be inspired by the courage of those who champion peace in neighbourhoods, classrooms and communities. 

And let’s call on world leaders to invest in a peaceful future for all people. 

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