Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 21/09/2015
Today is the International Day of Peace, which more that three decades ago the international community established in order to encourage the whole mankind to promote the ideals of peace. It is an occasion for all to demonstrate commitment to peace in all viable ways. In this regard, I wish to reiterate the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s principled position that people, regardless of their ethnic, religion, national or racial identities, who suffer in their homes and homelands because of the scourge of conflicts, wars, violence, occupation and oppression, deserve and have right to peace and life in dignity. In line with the theme of this year’s commemoration, that is “Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All”, the OIC is resolved to continue working together with its partners, most notably the United Nations and other regional and sub-regional organizations, and mobilizing its Member States as well as civil society, including private sector, non-governmental organization and faith-based groups to disseminate and strengthen a culture of peace, in tandem with its efforts to promote sustainable development, human rights and good governance. However, the man-made perils of our time such as humanitarian tragedies caused by armed conflicts, ethno-religious and sectarian violence and hate crimes indicate that there is much more to do in partnership in order to realize and protect the ideals of peace. Let all of us remember once again, and never forget, the very rationale, which gave birth to the International Day of Peace. As clearly stated in the preamble of the General Assembly resolution 36/67, which established this momentous day, “it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed, that a peace based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangements of Governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the peoples of the world, and that peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind.” On this occasion, I wish to also cherish the most pleasant and meaningful coincidence of both the International Day of Peace and the Eid-ul Adha being observed in the same week and call for non-violence and ceasefire in full respect of these two special occasions. The Eid-ul Adha, the Holy Day of Sacrifice, is a blessing for the whole humanity to show their desire to sacrifice for sake of the love of Allah, God the Almighty. In a similar way, let us sacrifice disagreements, enmities, hatreds, greeds, stereotypes, and prejudices in order to strengthen our intellectual and moral solidarity toward attaining and protecting peace.
