Quilliam supports Peace One Day's call for a Global Truce on Peace Day 21 September 2012

To some it’s just a single day. But to Peace One Day, 21 September is a 24-hour platform for life-saving activities around the world and an opportunity for individuals – particularly young people – to become involved in the peace process. We hope that our call for a Global Truce on Peace Day 2012 will help to institutionalise Peace Day and engage unprecedented numbers of people, regardless of national, cultural, political or religious identity, in the peaceful observance of 21 September.

Peace Day saves lives

In 2010, millions of people were active on Peace Day 21 September, in all 192 UN member states, and 28 organisations carried out 88 humanitarian activities across 31 countries. In Afghanistan, since 2007, 4.5 million children have been vaccinated against polio due to Peace Day agreements by all parties in the region. On Peace Day 2008 in Afghanistan the United Nations Department for Safety and Security, which monitors security related incidents, recorded a 70 per cent reduction in violent incidents on the day itself.

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PEACE DAY 2012 – A DAY OF GLOBAL TRUCE

For Peace Day 2012, Peace One Day is calling for and working towards a Global Truce – a day of ceasefire and non-violence observed by all sectors of society globally. To this end POD is engaged in an extensive diplomatic and grassroots communications exercise. POD hopes this will be the largest reduction in global violence in recorded history, both domestically and internationally.

Why a Global Truce on Peace Day 2012?

On Peace Day 2008, the United Nations Department for Safety and Security, which monitors security related incidents, recorded a 70% reduction in violent incidents in Afghanistan; it is this recorded reduction in violent incidents that has prompted the call for a Global Truce on Peace Day 2012, what is hoped will be the largest reduction in global violence in recorded history – from violence in our homes, communities and schools, through to armed conflict.

Measuring/Validating the Results and the Economic Benefits

Peace One Day will work together with the Institute for Economics and Peace to provide an independent assessment of global security situation in relation to the Global Truce, in-country data relating to observance within civil society and amongst parties to conflict and specifically look at the economic benefits of a day of Global Truce.
Qualitative and quantitative data will be gathered via individuals/grassroots organisations (with a focus on young people/schools), online registrants via peaceoneday.org and social media.

Why one day matters

The short film below is a testimonial from our own Co-Founder and Chairman Maajid Nawaz. Other leading figures and supporters of Peace One Day have also made short films to voice their support. They include:

Ban Ki Moon – Secretary General of the UN
Martin Bell – UNICEF UK Ambassador for Humanitarian Emergencies
Mary Robinson –  then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Kofi Annan – UN Secretary General (1997 – 2006)
Amri Moussa – Secretary General, League of Arab States
Adrian Edwards – Unama Spokesperson (2005-2008)
Terje Roed Larsen< /font> – Then UN Coordinator, Middle East Peace Process
Mairead Maguire – Nobel Peace Laureate