Published on: 2026-09-21
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 21, 2026 Peace and Security
Against the backdrop of increasing violence and conflicts, the UN chief on Monday called on world leaders and citizens to invest more actively in the cause of peace.
“Peace does not come by itself and is not achieved without effort,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in his message on the occasion of the International Day of Peace. “Investing in a better future is a conscious and purposeful choice.”
This year’s Theme of the Day – “Investing in Peace” – resonates with the fundamental principles of the UN. World leaders are gathering this week at the UN headquarters to participate in the annual High-level Week. Guterres urged them to strengthen diplomacy, dialogue, negotiations, and peacekeeping operations as crucial tools for preventing and resolving conflicts.
The world remains hard to achieve peace in many regions of the planet, as conflicts become increasingly large-scale and complex, he noted.
“We must talk to each other”
At the event dedicated to this Day at the UN office in Nairobi (Kenya), representatives of youth shared their opinions.
Benedict Wambuiya, a student at Jomo Kenyatta University studying agriculture and technology, recalled recent incidents of harsh suppression of protests in Kenya. According to him, many young people in the country feel that the authorities do not listen to them and violate their rights.
“Young people are hardly involved in discussing issues of peace at the global level,” he said. “We do not participate enough in maintaining peace worldwide. We need to try to understand our leaders, unite, work together, and support peace.”
Benedict Kioko, also a student at Kenyatta University, agreed with him.
“For peace to be lasting, mutual understanding is necessary,” he noted. “We must talk to each other to reach understanding. Often, peace is disrupted precisely because of the lack of dialogue or mutual understanding between the two sides.”
Festus Musau, a student at the Technical University of Kenya, stated that “everything is connected to the world.”
“For peace to prosper in the country,” he said, “it must begin with each individual person.”
The scale of conflicts is growing
Many societies around the world are facing violence and division, and conflicts are becoming increasingly large-scale. At the same time, finding solutions is very difficult because the international community does not show solidarity, noted the UN Secretary-General.
A durable peace, according to him, can only be built on the basis of an inclusive society, sustainable development, and respect for human rights.
“We are not powerless”
“People around the world are proving that we are not powerless,” he said. “Volunteers, human rights defenders, civil society leaders, peacekeepers, and mediators build bridges, unite communities, and achieve dialogue. Step by step, they lay the foundation for peace in their communities.”
These local initiatives indicate that peace can only be achieved through solutions aimed at creating a better future, he emphasized.
How does the UN promote peacebuilding?
The UN member states (there are 193 of them) have tasked the Organization with assisting countries in preventing and resolving conflicts, as well as recovering from them.
Activities in this field – from diplomacy and peacekeeping missions to working with local communities to strengthen peace – have been carried out since the founding of the UN.
Since 1948, the UN Security Council has authorized the deployment of more than 70 missions worldwide. Currently, 11 peacekeeping missions are active. More about the extensive work of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs can be found here.
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