International Day of Non-Violence celebrated OCT 2

International Day of Non-Violence

The International Day of Non-Violence is marked on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to “disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness”. The resolution reaffirms “the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence” and the desire “to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence”.

Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, said that the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mahatma Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy. Quoting the late leader’s own words, he said: “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man”.
 

Background

The life and leadership of Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi, who helped lead India to independence, has been the inspiration for non-violent movements for civil rights and social change across the world.

Throughout his life, Gandhi remained committed to his belief in non-violence even under oppressive conditions and in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

The theory behind his actions, which included encouraging massive civil disobedience to British law as with the historic Salt March of 1930, was that “just means lead to just ends”; that is, it is irrational to try to use violence to achieve a peaceful society. He believed that Indians must not use violence or hatred in their fight for freedom from colonialism.

Definition of Non-Violence

The principle of non-violence — also known as non-violent resistance — rejects the use of physical violence in order to achieve social or political change. Often described as “the politics of ordinary people”, this form of social struggle has been adopted by mass populations all over the world in campaigns for social justice.

Professor Gene Sharp, a leading scholar on non-violent resistance, uses the following definition in his publication, The Politics of Nonviolent Action:

“Nonviolent action is a technique by which people who reject passivity and submission, and who see struggle as essential, can wage their conflict without violence. Nonviolent action is not an attempt to avoid or ignore conflict. It is one response to the problem of how to act effectively in politics, especially how to wield powers effectively.”

While non-violence is frequently used as a synonym for pacifism, since the mid-twentieth century the term non-violence has been adopted by many movements for social change which do not focus on opposition to war.

One key tenet of the theory of non-violence is that the power of rulers depends on the consent of the population, and non-violence therefore seeks to undermine such power through withdrawal of the consent and cooperation of the populace.

There are three main categories of non-violence action:

• protest and persuasion, including marches and vigils;
• non-cooperation; and
• non-violent intervention, such as blockades and occupations.

Introduction – Nobel Peace Prize

In 60 years, the United Nations, its specialized agencies and staff were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize ten times. One agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees received the famous prize twice.

Two Secretaries-General, Kofi Annan and Dag Hammarskjold were honoured as well by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for their work.

The latest awardee, Mohamed ElBaradei declared upon learning that he was the 2005 recipient of the prize “I think the prize would strengthen my resolve and that of my colleagues to continue to speak the truth to power, to continue to speak our minds.

We have no hidden agenda except to ensure that our world continues to be safe and humane”. ”

“For one hundred years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to strengthen organized cooperation between states.

The end of the cold war has at last made it possible for the U.N. to perform more fully the part it was originally intended to play. Non-Violence“, a sculpture by Karl Fredrik Reutersward, sits permanently outside UN Headquarters in New York. (UN Photo)

Today the organization is at the forefront of efforts to achieve peace and security in the world, and of the international mobilization aimed at meeting the world’s economic, social and environmental challenges….[The] Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes in its centenary year to proclaim that the only negotiable route to global peace and cooperation goes by way of the United Nations.”

Documents

• General Assembly Resolution on International Day of Non-Violence (A/RES/61/271)
• International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World (2001–2010)
• Declaration on the Right of People to Peace
• Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace
• General Assembly resolutions on non-violence
• Secretary-General’s reports
• Secretary-General’s notes