September 21: International Day of Peace

September 21 may be the anniversary of Martial Law in the Philippines but worldwide, it is celebrated as the United Nations' International Day of Peace.

The UN General Assembly established the International Day of Peace in 1981. Twenty years later, in 2001, the General Assembly designated September 21 as a period of non-violence and ceasefire.

All nations are called to honor a cessation of hostilities every September 21.

The theme for 2016 is  “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.”

The UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by all the 193 Member States of the UN  in September 2015.

These goals aim to end poverty, protect the Earth, and ensure the well-being and success of every person.

On the UN website, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said “The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are our shared vision of humanity and a social contract between the world's leaders and the people."

“They are a to-do list for people and planet, and a blueprint for success,” he added. — Veronica Pulumbarit/RSJ, GMA News