The 100th anniversary of the UN Peace International Day begins

United Nations: United Nations General Secretary Antonio Gutierrez opened a 100 days ceremony for the International Day of Peace, "to put the first peace" with a strong appeal to citizens, governments and leaders around the world. Guterres on Wednesday said the International Day, marked annually on September 21, "embodies our shared aspiration to end the needless suffering caused by armed conflict", reports Xinhua news agency. The Secretary-General said: "It is a day on which the United Nations calls for a 24-hour global ceasefire, with the hope that one day of peace can lead to another, and another, and ultimately to a stilling of the guns."

The UN chief explained that there is more to achieving peace than laying down weapons. "True peace requires building bridges, combating discrimination and standing up for the human rights of all the world's people." The theme for this year's International Day of Peace is "Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All" with a particular focus on the plight of refugees and migrants throughout the world. Guterres urged everyone - over the next 100 days - Millions of people in our community to remember the weaker members, many of whom are lost, our understanding and help. International Day of Peace, unofficially known as World Peace Day, was celebrated for the first time in 1982.