Peace is more than the absence of conflict.

 

The sacred right to peace, as established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1984, does not only mean the absence of violence or war. Sustainable peace is possible only as part of an inclusive process that pays attention to human rights and justice. In 2023, global military spending reached $2.44 trillion. Military spending by states limits the availability of funding for investment in sustainable development including health, education, and the environment. Since the birth of the United Nations, disarmament has been central to the organization's efforts to maintain international peace and security. In 1998, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) was established to support multilateral efforts aimed at achieving disarmament. The Office promotes norm-setting and multilateral agreements, facilitates dialogue, and advocates for concrete and effective solutions to support sustainable peace.



 This photo from 2010 was taken at the Vienna International Centre. Children of the World Peace Choir are ringing the Peace Bell at the VIC Memorial Plaza in celebration of the International Day of Peace

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