UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres
At the annual Peace Bell ceremony held at UN Headquarters in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the transformative power of peace, declaring, “Peace remains the greatest catalyst for a brighter tomorrow.”
Speaking on Friday, Guterres highlighted the urgency of fostering peace in a world increasingly torn by conflict.
“Peace is achievable if we commit to it,” he asserted, noting that the iconic Peace Bell, forged in 1952 from coins and medals donated globally, symbolizes humanity’s shared aspiration for harmony.
“This bell teaches us that even the smallest acts can create lasting change,” he added.
Guterres reflected on the United Nations’ founding mission, stating, “Eighty years ago, the UN rose from the ruins of war to champion peace.”
Yet, he cautioned, “Today, peace is under attack. Conflicts are escalating, civilians are suffering, and human rights are being violated, staining our shared humanity.”
With the International Day of Peace approaching on September 21, themed “ _Act Now for a Peaceful World,”_ Guterres called for decisive action.
“Peace is not passive—it requires courage, compromise, and action,” he said, urging efforts to “silence weapons, prioritize diplomacy, protect civilians, and uphold the UN Charter.”
He also stressed addressing conflict triggers like inequality, exclusion, hate speech, and climate crises while supporting peacebuilders, particularly women and youth, whom he described as “the vanguard of hope.”
President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, echoed Guterres’ resolve.
Addressing the global rise in conflicts, she posed a rhetorical question: “Would there be less war without the UN?” Her firm response: “Absolutely not.”
Baerbock urged perseverance, saying, “This is not the time to surrender—it’s the time to double our efforts.”
The Japanese Peace Bell, a gift from the UN Association of Japan in 1954, bears the inscription, “Long live absolute world peace.”
Housed in a structure resembling a Shinto shrine, it is rung biannually—on the vernal equinox and the International Day of Peace—to renew the global call for unity and peace.
