Peace One Day An annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence

Peace One Day

Visit the Peace One Day website

The Peace One Day Objectives

Peace One Day began life as a film project, the vision of one man, British filmmaker, Jeremy Gilley . In September 2001, Peace One Day achieved its primary objective: a United Nations General Assembly Resolution, put forward by the UK and Costa Rican governments, was unanimously adopted by UN member states formally establishing an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence on the UN International Day of Peace – Peace Day – fixed in the global calendar on 21 September . The Peace One Day film documents the journey of an inspirational individual – Jeremy Gilley – and his journey to establish the Day. Completed in 2003, the film has now become a powerful awareness-raising tool.

With Peace Day now fixed in the global calendar, Jeremy Gilley and Peace One Day invite you to join with the thousands of other individuals around the world to celebrate the Day, by committing to holding your own Peace Day activity on 21 September; this could be as simple as making up with a friend. Your commitment to Peace Day as an individual will strengthen the message of peace around the world encouraging others to join in this moment of global unity, as Peace Day is envisioned to become.

This year, for the first time in the Day's history, Peace One Day will be instigating commitments to Peace Day in 192 countries – every UN member state. There will be peace marches, festivals, music events, multi-faith celebrations, sports events, debates, parties, dance events, people holding a minute of silence, individuals resolving conflict in their own lives and much more happening all around the world, in all sectors of society. You can see a full list of reported commitments at www.peaceoneday.org

“You have proved that individuals can make a difference, and if each of us does our bit, collectively we will make a major contribution” Kofi Annan, United Nation Secretary-General

Schools across the UK are leading the way with the single largest commitment to date – the Song for Peace initiative – a collaboration between National Association of Schoolmasters / Union of Women Teachers, Peace One Day and Youth Music. Every school in the UK has been asked to sign up to sing the specially commissioned song “No Wars Will Stop Us Singing” on Peace Day 2006. Over 5,000 schools across the UK have registered their commitment so far, involving an estimated 2 million schoolchildren.

“I am delighted to give my support to the Song for Peace project. It's an imaginative way of involving young people across the country in the UN International Day of Peace and I hope as many schools as possible take part.”
Tony Blair, Prime Minister

If you are a school teacher you may be interested in a number of Peace One Day educational materials, including the Peace One Day Citizenship Resource Pack for Key Stages 3&4. Launched in 2006, the pack was inspired by the 35,000 young people that Jeremy Gilley met during the course of his travels. Subjects covered in the pack include Peace, Conflict Resolution, Bullying and Intercultural Cooperation . The feedback from schools has been phenomenal. You can find testimonials form educationalists, young people and journalists on the Peace One Day website: www.peaceoneday.org

Jeremy is currently filming a second feature documentary, again in association with the BBC and Passion Pictures in which commitments from people around the world will be featured. This film will also document the first ever life-saving activities around the world, specifically instigated on Peace Day, in such places as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and southern Sudan . In addition, Peace One Day is collaborating with Star Syringe, inventors of the lifesaving K1 auto-disable syringe, to carry out safe immunisation campaigns in at least 20 locations in 14 countries.

Peace One Day is impartial and independent of any government, political persuasion, corporation or religious creed.

Peace One Day TV ad

Watch the MTV video clip for the Peace One Day concert on September 21. More