The International Day of Living Together in Peace: an urgent call in times of conflict
“The task of politics is to prevent conflict; the task of education is to establish peace. We must convince the world of the need for a universal, collective effort to lay the foundations for peace.”
Maria Montessori
Every May 16, the world celebrates the International Day of Living Together in Peace, a date that was established by Resolution 72/130 of the United Nations General Assembly in 2017 with the purpose of promoting dialogue and the peaceful resolution of conflicts between people, cultures and nations. In the current global context, characterized by different conflicts and crises, this day acquires a profound relevance that proclaims a paradigm shift towards peaceful coexistence.
On this date, the UN reminds us that living together in peace is not only the absence of war, but also the recognition that human beings think differently, and that in the face of these differences we need to maintain an active attitude of respect, dialogue and cooperation that recognizes the dignity and rights of all people. It implies transforming human relations based on tolerance and understanding, and building inclusive societies where differences are not the cause of confrontation, but of mutual enrichment.
At present, humanity is facing a series of conflicts that threaten the most fundamental principles of living together in peace. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for example, has experienced an unprecedented escalation in recent months. It has been observed through different media how thousands of Palestinians have been suffering the most terrible consequences of the war, and the global polarization around this conflict has put to the test the capacity of human beings to defend the values of justice and humanity.
Another alarming case is the war in Ukraine, which continues more than two years after the Russian invasion in February 2022. This conflict has not only caused unprecedented humanitarian and economic devastation in the region but has contributed to increasing militarization and geopolitical fragmentation globally. The repercussions affect the migration of millions of Ukrainians fleeing the ravages of war in their country. This war has also affected global food prices, making it difficult for countries to ensure adequate food security.
In Sudan, a conflict between the national army and paramilitary forces began in 2023 and has resulted in one of the largest humanitarian crises with the largest number of displaced people today and is largely forgotten by the international community. Millions of people are suffering extreme poverty and the few mediation efforts to end the conflict have been insufficient.
Furthermore, in countries such as Myanmar, Ethiopia or in regions such as the African Sahel, ethnic, religious and political tensions continue to generate violence, massive displacement and human rights violations. In many of these scenarios, lack of dialogue, hatred between communities and social exclusion act as fuels for conflict.
In the face of this reality, the International Day for living together in peace emerges as a reminder and a hope. Its message invites us to put aside confrontation with others and to actively cultivate peace as an ongoing process. Living together in peace requires political will, peace education, social justice and the active participation of citizens.
In view of the above, the UN has defined a number of pillars for sustainable peace processes, among them: respect for human rights, gender equality, protection of minorities and strengthening the rule of law.
In contexts of conflict, living together in peace not only refers to the relationship between countries, but also to the way in which we coexist within our own communities. The Nobel Peace Prize winner, Rigoberta Menchú, in one of her most forceful quotes tells us that: “Peace is not only the absence of war; as long as there is poverty, racism, discrimination and exclusion, it will be difficult to achieve a world of peace”. That is why promoting a culture of peace implies building horizontal relationships based on respect for others.
It is for this reason that The International Day of Living Together in Peace should not remain a mere symbolic gesture or empty declarations but should be an urgent call to individual and collective action in times of conflict. In a world marked by so many wars, inequalities and deep divisions, this day reminds us that peace is not a distant ideal, but a daily construction.
History has shown us that violence leads to more violence, it also teaches us that reconciliation is possible, that differences can be overcome and that wounds can be healed as long as there is a will.
William Martínez Bustos, FIBGAR collaborator
