A young girl parades at Notting Hill Carnival in London, England. The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe and originated in 1964 as a way for Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate their own cultures and traditions. It is an annual event that takes place every August Bank Holiday weekend.
Photo credit: Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

International Day of Living Together in Peace

World peace is a continuous and evolving process that requires active engagement from all parties involved. Rather than simply avoiding or suppressing conflicts, we must address the underlying issues and build constructive relationships based on respect, empathy, and collaboration. On this year’s International Day of Living Together in Peace, we underscore the importance of dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation in building sustainable peace.

From a historical perspective, humanity’s enduring quest for lasting peace has been marked by various movements, treaties and efforts to resolve conflicts and promote harmony among nations. These efforts reflect a deep-seated desire among individuals and communities to live in a world free from violence and war. To philosophers, lasting peace reflects humanity’s aspiration for a more just and equitable society. They have long debated the nature of peace and the conditions necessary for its attainment, emphasising the importance of empathy, understanding and cooperation among individuals and nations. Psychologically, this quest reflects our innate desire for security and stability. The fear and uncertainty created by conflict’s profound effects on mental health and well-being drive people to seek ways to resolve disputes and build peaceful societies. It is further rooted in the belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every human being. Many religious traditions teach the importance of compassion, forgiveness, and reconciliation as essential elements of building peaceful relationships and societies.

According to UNESCO, the principle that peace is not merely the absence of conflict emphasises the need for a proactive approach to building and maintaining peace. This approach involves creating a positive, dynamic, participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts resolved through mutual understanding and cooperation.

Dialogue plays a crucial role in conflict resolution. It provides a platform for conflicting parties to express their perspectives, listen to each other’s concerns, and find common ground. By fostering a culture of open and respectful communication, dialogue reduces misunderstandings, builds trust, and paves the way for mutually acceptable solutions to conflicts. Mutual understanding is also key to building sustainable peace. It involves recognising and respecting the perspectives, values, and rights of others, even when they differ from your own. Through dialogue and engagement, conflicting parties gain a deeper understanding of each other’s positions and work towards finding shared solutions.

For dialogue and mutual respect to work, the parties involved have to agree to cooperate. Working together towards common goals, the parties overcome challenges more effectively and build a foundation for long-term peace and stability. Cooperation takes many forms, including joint initiatives, partnerships and collaborations that promote shared interests and values.

Partnerships and collaborations are powerful tools for promoting peace. Informed by Sustainable Development Goal 17, which underscores their importance for sustainable development, organisations must collaborate with each other, governments, civil society, and the private sector. By sharing resources, expertise, and best practices, these partnerships can amplify your advocacy efforts and reach a wider audience. This collective strength can make a significant impact in promoting peace.

Collaboration should also involve sharing data and information related to peace and conflict resolution and sharing knowledge and best practices for promoting peace. By collecting, documenting and sharing data on conflict trends, peacebuilding initiatives, and the impact of violence, your organisation benefits in two ways. First, you get to understand the dynamics of conflict better and develop more effective strategies for promoting peace. Second, by documenting and sharing lessons learned from peacebuilding initiatives, your organisation can help inform future efforts and contribute to a more evidence-based approach to peacebuilding.

Living together in peace requires proactive and inclusive approaches to building peace. By encouraging dialogue, promoting mutual understanding, and fostering cooperation, we can create a more peaceful and harmonious world for all. Additionally, by addressing the root causes of conflict in people’s minds and promoting a culture of peace, your organisation can work towards building a more peaceful and just environment.