20 Sep 2016   

International Day of Peace - The SDGs: ‘Building Blocks for Peace’

The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21st September. This year’s theme is “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”, which highlights the responsibility to provide the opportunity for prosperity, peace and partnership through the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

The observance of The International Day of Peace will also include the call for global ceasefire in situations of conflict and violence in order to enhance the culture of peace and stability around the world.

“The people of the world have asked us to shine a light on a future of promise and opportunity. Member States have responded with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development... It is an agenda for people, to end poverty in all its forms” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “[it is an] agenda for shared prosperity, peace and partnership."

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are essential to achieving peace in our time, as development and peace are ‘interdependent and mutually reinforcing.’

Sustainability addresses the fundamental needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Challenges today of poverty, hunger, environmental, degradation, disease, social inequality, among others, threaten peace through creating ample grounds for conflict.

Sustainable development works to alleviate these challenges, addressing the needs of the most vulnerable whilst accounting for the limits of our finite planet and providing the foundation for a stable and lasting peace. At the same time, peace strengthens the conditions for sustainable development through liberating the resources needed for societies to develop and prosper.

With technological innovations advancing rapidly, humanitarian and development actors are looking for the most effective and efficient ways utilise digital platforms for improving humanitarian assistance and progress toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and a lasting peace.

The 2nd annual Aid & Development Africa Summit on 28 February-1 March 2017, held in Nairobi, Kenya aims to explore how technological innovations and best practice can improve aid delivery and development strategy in Sub-Saharan East Africa. Register now to join engaging and inspiring discussions with 60+ expert speakers and mingle with over 300 senior representatives from regional governments, UN agencies, NGOs, development banks, civil society organisations and the private sector. For more information, visit http://africa.aidforum.org