“Peace Not War”: Accelerating Peace Worldwide

This side event of the UN Summit of the Future Action Days aired live on UN Web TV on September 21, 2024.

“Peace is not a destination, but an ongoing process,” stated Ambassador Leonor Zalabata Torres, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations, capturing the essence of the discussions that took place on the International Day of Peace, September 21, 2024.

On this day, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations, the United Nations Department of Global Communications, in collaboration with the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), UNESCO, Dag Hammarskjöld UN Library, and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) organized the “Peace not War” side event at the UN Summit of the Future Action Days.

The purpose of this event was to explore concrete actions toward global peace while learning from two peace processes – the Good Friday Agreement in Ireland, and the 2016 Final Peace Accord in Colombia – while fostering international cooperation, and engaging a diverse range of stakeholders.A key component of this dialogue was how peace, justice, and inclusion can accelerate pathways to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. This dialogue was framed by the recently adopted UN Pact for the Future, and esteemed speakers offered insights into building peaceful and inclusive societies.