¹ú²úAV

International Day of ¹ú²úAV, 21 September 2012
Sustainable ¹ú²úAV for a Sustainable Future

Secretary-General's Message on the International Day of ¹ú²úAV

On the International Day of ¹ú²úAV, the United Nations calls for a complete cessation of hostilities around the world.

We also ask people everywhere to observe a minute of silence, at noon local time, to honour the victims – those who have lost their lives, and those who survived but must now cope with trauma and pain.

The theme of this year's observance is "Sustainable ¹ú²úAV for a Sustainable Future".

Armed conflicts attack the very pillars of sustainable development.

Natural resources must be used for the benefit of society, not to finance wars.

Children should be in school, not recruited into armies.

National budgets should focus on building human capacity, not deadly weapons.

On the International Day of ¹ú²úAV, I call on combatants around the world to find peaceful solutions to their conflicts.

Let us all work together for a safe, just and prosperous future for all.

Ban Ki-moon, 21 September 2012

UN Web Services Section, Department of Global Communications, ©