‘We are not powerless’: UN chief urges world leaders to invest in peace

UN Secretary-General António Guterres marked the International Day of Peace by calling on world leaders to strengthen diplomacy, dialogue, mediation, and peacekeeping operations as critical tools for preventing and resolving conflicts. He emphasized that peace is not automatic but requires deliberate investment in a better future, aligning with the UN’s founding principles established after World War II. Guterres highlighted the increasing scale and complexity of conflicts worldwide, making peace a vital but elusive resource for human development.

At a UN event in Nairobi, Kenya, young people shared their perspectives on peace, noting their limited involvement in global peace discussions despite their potential to contribute. Benedict Wambuya, a student at Jomo Kenyatta University, criticized recent crackdowns in his country, stressing that youth must engage more actively in maintaining peace by understanding leaders and working collectively. His peer, Benedict Kioko, underscored the necessity of dialogue and mutual understanding to sustain peace, warning that lack of communication often disrupts stability.

The UN Secretary-General acknowledged that international solidarity is weakening amid rising violence and division, yet grassroots efforts by volunteers, civil society, and peacekeepers demonstrate that people are not powerless. He pointed to these initiatives as proof that peace is built from the ground up through deliberate actions, inclusive societies, sustainable development, and respect for human rights. The UN, mandated by its 173 Member States, continues to support conflict prevention, resolution, and recovery through diplomacy, peacekeeping, and community engagement.

To mark the day, the UN launched the Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World campaign, featuring a Peace Circle event to amplify young voices in an independent progress study on youth contributions to peace. The campaign also includes the ActNow initiative, connecting audiences with actionable opportunities from September 14 to 26, alongside symbolic exhibits at UN Headquarters in New York, such as the peace bell and the Non-Violence sculpture honoring John Lennon.