International Day of Peaceful Coexistence

• The UN observes International Day of Peaceful Coexistence on January 28 for the first time this year.

• On March 4, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 28 January as the International Day of Peaceful Coexistence.

• The initiative was proposed by Bahrain.

• The resolution emphasizes the role of Member States and stakeholders in promoting tolerance, respect for religious and cultural diversity, and human rights. 

Commitment to Peaceful Coexistence

• Peace is more than the absence of war. It is the ability to live together amid our differences — of sex, race, language, religion, or culture — while upholding the justice and human rights that make such coexistence possible. 

• It is an ongoing process and a long-term goal that demands constant care, vigilance, and active participation from everyone.

• As one of the five pillars of the 2030 Agenda — alongside People, Planet, Prosperity, and Partnership — peace is central to its vision. 

• The Agenda’s preamble underscores the goal of fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, free from fear and violence.

• With global instability and conflict on the rise, the International Day of Peaceful Coexistence serves as a platform to raise awareness of diverse cultures, values, ways of life, and beliefs, and to highlight the role of education in promoting tolerance.

• The Day also offers an opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to the founding purposes and principles of the United Nations, as enshrined in international agreements and declarations over the years.