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Japanese Peace Bell and cherry blossoms at UN Headquarters

... UN Secretary-General António Guterres

International Day of Peace Poster

2023 Theme Actions for peace: Our ambition for the #GlobalGoals

Each year the International Day of Peace (IDP) is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Never has our world needed peace more.

This year’s theme is Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals . It is a call to action that recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace. Fostering peace contributes to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will create a culture of peace for all.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, "Peace is needed today more than ever. War and conflict are unleashing devastation, poverty, and hunger, and driving tens of millions of people from their homes. Climate chaos is all around. And even peaceful countries are gripped by gaping inequalities and political polarization."

Sustainable Development Goals

2023 marks the mid-point in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2023 observance of the International Day of Peace coincides with the SDG summit (18 – 19 September) to mark the mid-point milestone.

The SDGs aim to bring us closer to having more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, free from fear and violence. But without the buy-in and contribution of a wide range of actors including the 1.2 billion young people alive, the goals will not be achieved. We invite you to join the United Nations’ call to take action for peace: fight inequality, drive action on climate change, and promote and protect human rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights & the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide

2023 is also the 75th anniversaries of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide . IDP 2023 encourages all youth to be ambitious in their engagement as positive and constructive social agents, to join the movement to reach the SDGs and contribute to building sustainable peace. Together we can help to lead our world towards a greener, more equitable, just, and secure future for all.

Peace begins with me

Premiering September 14, 2023 , the "Peace Begins With Me" multimedia poem showcases a creative collaboration between Congolese peacekeeper and musician Pacifique Akilimali and Nigerian peace advocate and poet Maryam Bukar Hassan. See Michael Douglas, Nancy Ajram & others as they join UN Peacekeeping in the fight for peace.

More info UN News: Young poets lend their talents to promote peace UNDESA: Young poets lend their talents to promote peace

Start the conversation about this year's IDP 2023 - Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals. Share your thoughts using the campaign's graphic assets .

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.

2023 Events

Peace bell ceremony - international day of peace 13 september, 10:00-10:30 a.m. est.

This year, the traditional Peace Bell Ceremony took place on Wednesday, 13 September. Remarks were delivered by the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly , and the event was livestreamed on UN Web TV .  Watch the Peace Bell Ceremony .

Youth Event - International Day of Peace 14 September, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST

Video with highlights of the youth event Programme Watch the full event on YouTube Watch the full event on UN Web TV

This year, the International Day of Peace Youth Event was livestreamed on UN Web TV and UN YouTube on 14 September. The event provided a platform for young people to showcase the actions they have taken, or commit to an action they will take, in their schools and communities to help accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs and thereby fostering peace .

Read an interview in Africa Renewal with Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, who spoke at the event.

Get Involved!

Act for our common future.

ACT NOW banner with the colours of the 17 SDGs

Embrace the possible. That’s the call of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals , a blueprint for a better world. We don’t have to wait for the future we want—we can create it right now. Everyone can join the global movement for change.

ActNow is the United Nations campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals.

The time is now to UNITE TO ACT!

two women hold hands while holding them up with a line connecting them along the words: Unite to Act

Unity is at the heart of the SDGs because achieving any single goal requires achieving them all. And this is only possible when people themselves unite for change to give humanity and our planet a beautiful, sustainable future.

We are stronger together, united in action. Register your action today and UNITE TO #Act4SDGs

Related links

  • Secretary-General’s Appeal for Global Ceasefire
  • United Nations Messengers of Peace

The SDG multicoloured wheel is project around the round gold UN emblem of the map of the world surrounded by olive branches

The 2023 SDG Summit

The 2023 SDG Summit takes place on 18-19 September 2023, during the United Nations General Assembly high-level week to follow-up and review the implementation of the  2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  and the  17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  . Member States will carry out a comprehensive review of the state of the SDGs, respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world, and provide political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to the target year of 2030 for achieving the SDGs.

footballers celebrating win

Related observances

  • International Day of Conscience
  • International Day of Sport for Development and Peace  
  • International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace  
  • International Day of Living Together in Peace
  • International Day of UN Peacekeepers
  • International Day of Non-Violence
  • World Science Day for Peace and Development  
  • International Day of Neutrality

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

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International Peace Day Essay, Speech, Slogans, Quotes (International Day of Peace 21 September)

International peace day essay, speech, slogans, quotes, posters [ 21st september ], international day of peace speech.

International Peace Day / International Day of Peace 21 September / World Peace Day : Peace means freedom, peace means a feeling of comfort, and peace means freedom from war and terror . These three words are enough to explain real peace. Peace is necessary for the existence of this world. The absence of peace in any region of the world is responsible for the deaths of many people, which results in the ruination of that region. If any area is suffering from war or terror, then life there is badly affected in many ways. All the activities like education , business, sports , etc are suspended in a war-affected area. Peace is necessary for life, for living, and for happiness.

International Peace Day / International Day of Peace 21 September / World Peace Day

International Peace Day / International Day of Peace 21 September / World Peace Day History

United Nations organization was established to make this world peaceful and terror-free. And to provide awareness about peace, the UN decided to celebrate international peace day in 1982. Since then International Peace Day  [ International Day of Peace ] is celebrated every year on the 21 st of September . The purpose to celebrate this day is to create a sense and awareness in the people about the importance of peace. UN gives a message to the whole world to respect each other because an environment of peace can only be created if people respect each other. When people start to respect others’ feelings and other’s religions, peace developed in the region. On the international day of peace different organizations including the UN arrange programs all over the world. All countries arrange meetings and conferences to highlight the need and importance of peace. Schools and colleges also arrange programs for their students and students’ present models highlighting the value of peace.

peace bell

The world has been badly affected by war and terror. We can take the example of the First and Second World Wars, these wars created the biggest disaster whose aftereffects can be felt till now. Even our own sub-continent has been the big victim of terror riots which badly affected our education, lifestyle, economical value, and social values. There is a need to give the terrorists a retort of their bad deeds and save our world from them. It is time to make this world a peaceful paradise.

International Day of Peace Quotes | World Peace Day Quotes

“Freedom from desire leads to inner peace.”  » Lao Tse
“Yes, we love peace, but we are not willing to take wounds for it, as we are for war.” » John Andrew Holmes
“How can I have peace? Not by talking about peace, But by walking Along the road of peace.” » Sri Chinmoy

International Peace Day Slogans | Slogans on International Day of Peace

“Right is more precious than peace.” » Woodrow Wilson
“A heart of peace Is always the best Problem-solver.” » Sri Chinmoy
“A warless world will come as men develop warless hearts.” » Charles Wesley Burns

International Day Of Peace Slogans

“If you want to end the war then Instead of sending guns, send books. Instead of sending tanks, send pens. Instead of sending soldiers, send teachers.” » Malala Yousafzai
“I think that people want peace so much that one of these days government had better get out of their way and let them have it.” » Dwight Eisenhower

International Peace Day Quotes

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” » Martin Luther King , Jr.
“He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the world.” » Marcus Aurelius
“To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” » Robert Muller

World Peace Day Quotes

“We have all taken risks in the making of war. Isn’t it time that we should take risks to secure peace?” » J. Ramsay MacD onald
“Peace does not mean the absence of war, peace means the presence of harmony, love, satisfaction and oneness. Peace means a flood of love in the world family.” » Sri Chinmoy
“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.” » John F. Kennedy
“To replace the old paradigm of war with a new paradigm of waging peace, we must be pioneers who can push the boundaries of human understanding. We must be doctors who can cure the virus of violence. We must be soldiers of peace who can do more than preach to the choir. And we must be artists who will make the world our masterpiece.” » Paul Chappell
“We seek peace, knowing that peace is the climate of freedom.” » Dwight D. Eisenhower’

International Peace Day 2022 Theme / International Day of Peace 21 September 2022 Theme / World Peace Day Theme

For International Day of Peace 2022, the theme is ‘ End Racism. Build Peace ‘. The United Nations state that this is a date dedicated to strengthening the ideals of peace through a non-violent period of a 24-hour cease-fire. The United Nations also wants to address hate speech and violence directed at racial minorities.

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Word "peace" projected on UNESCO HQ Building - 15 November 2015

International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace celebrates the power of global solidarity for building a peaceful and sustainable world.

This has never been so important at a time of unprecedented challenges. New forces of division have emerged, spreading hatred and intolerance. Terrorism is fuelling violence, while violent extremism seek to poison the minds of the vulnerable and young. In the poorest and least-developed parts of the world, climate-related natural disasters are compounding existing fragility, increasing forced migration and heightening the risk of violence.

The barriers to peace are complex and steep - no one country can solve them alone. Doing so requires new forms of solidarity and joint action, starting as early as possible. 

Peace Symbol

Establishing a culture of peace and sustainable development are at the heart of UNESCO’s mandate

Training and research in sustainable development are among the priorities, as well as human rights education, skills for peaceful relations, good governance, Holocaust remembrance, the prevention of conflict and peace building.

"Being responsible for peace means acting to overcome the flaws and injustices which continue to prevent us from achieving an egalitarian world. Because a planet eroded by division is a planet which knows no peace."

UNESCO Director-General

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international peace day essay

U.N. International Day of Peace

21 september.

un.org/peaceday

international peace day essay

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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TOGETHER: A global campaign to change perceptions and attitudes towards refugees and migrants

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What Can YOU Do for the U.N. International Day of Peace?

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1984 First Major Local Global United Nations Peace Day Celebration

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE?

The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.

This is a long-established universal website that serves all involved in Peace Day, beginning annually with the 100-day Countdown.

This year is particularly significant: It is the   20th Anniversary   of the UN Resolution on the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.   A/RES/53/243 B

Let us all create Peace Day every day!

UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, delivers his 100-day countdown to the International Day of Peace message.   https://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/100days.shtml

PEACE DAY THEME

international peace day essay

2023 GLobal Peace Day Theme: Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals

This theme is a call to action that recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace. Fostering peace contributes to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will create a culture of peace for all. The SDGs aim to bring us closer to having more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, free from fear and violence. Learn more  HERE

GET INVOLVED

international peace day essay

From education to the arts, social justice to sports, health to the environment, neighborhood issues to service for others, there are many ways to participate in Peace Day! We invite you to create a public or private activity related to peace, spread the word about Peace Day and/or attend an event in your community.

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The International Day of Peace

international peace day essay

The International Day of Peace is on 21 September. It aims to build a more peaceful world for everyone who lives in it.

Instructions

Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

With so many people around the world suffering because of war and violence, working towards peace is as important as ever. The International Day of Peace is on 21 September every year. 

The meaning of 'peace'

Peace can mean different things to different people. To many, peace means freedom from violence or war. It means living without fear and anxiety. Peace also means understanding other people and living with them without fights or arguments.

The consequences of war

War destroys homes, families and communities. People affected by war often go through huge emotional stress. They may suffer from anxiety, depression and other effects of trauma for a long time afterwards. Teenagers may also lose their education as schooling is interrupted or stopped. 

The International Day of Peace is on 21 September every year and aims to build a more peaceful world for everyone who lives in it. Every year on this day the United Nations asks for all fighting around the world to stop for 24 hours. This is called a ceasefire. There is also a minute of silence at 12 midday to honour victims of war and violence. Each year, there is a different theme for the Day of Peace, for example 'End racism: build peace' or 'Climate action for peace'. 

International Day of Peace events

As well as taking part in the one-minute silence, people worldwide can get involved in many different events on 21 September. There are sports activities such as a football match for peace, or people can participate in yoga and meditation. Teenagers might choose to make artwork with a message about peace or explore the topic through film, music or dance projects. 

Peace at school

Schools also take part in a wide range of activities related to peace and unity, often focusing on preventing school violence and bullying. Working on peace at school doesn't have to stop after 21 September. Conflict between students can create a stressful learning environment and often take up time that should be for learning and teaching. To help with this problem, some schools are training students to be peacemakers or mediators. Mediators talk to people or groups involved in a conflict to help them find a solution. Training as a mediator is a great way for young people to learn negotiation skills and take responsibility for resolving disagreements themselves.

What we can all do for peace

War and conflict are often out of our control, but everyone can be responsible for their own behaviour. For example, you can try to bring peace to your personal life by saying sorry and making peace with someone you know. Or you can learn and practise the skills to help your schoolmates resolve misunderstandings and arguments. Individual actions add up to great things when they are multiplied by millions of people all over the planet, and we can all contribute to making the world a more peaceful place.   

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What can you do in your everyday life to create peace with people around you?

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Essay on Peace

500 words essay peace.

Peace is the path we take for bringing growth and prosperity to society. If we do not have peace and harmony, achieving political strength, economic stability and cultural growth will be impossible. Moreover, before we transmit the notion of peace to others, it is vital for us to possess peace within. It is not a certain individual’s responsibility to maintain peace but everyone’s duty. Thus, an essay on peace will throw some light on the same topic.

essay on peace

Importance of Peace

History has been proof of the thousands of war which have taken place in all periods at different levels between nations. Thus, we learned that peace played an important role in ending these wars or even preventing some of them.

In fact, if you take a look at all religious scriptures and ceremonies, you will realize that all of them teach peace. They mostly advocate eliminating war and maintaining harmony. In other words, all of them hold out a sacred commitment to peace.

It is after the thousands of destructive wars that humans realized the importance of peace. Earth needs peace in order to survive. This applies to every angle including wars, pollution , natural disasters and more.

When peace and harmony are maintained, things will continue to run smoothly without any delay. Moreover, it can be a saviour for many who do not wish to engage in any disrupting activities or more.

In other words, while war destroys and disrupts, peace builds and strengthens as well as restores. Moreover, peace is personal which helps us achieve security and tranquillity and avoid anxiety and chaos to make our lives better.

How to Maintain Peace

There are many ways in which we can maintain peace at different levels. To begin with humankind, it is essential to maintain equality, security and justice to maintain the political order of any nation.

Further, we must promote the advancement of technology and science which will ultimately benefit all of humankind and maintain the welfare of people. In addition, introducing a global economic system will help eliminate divergence, mistrust and regional imbalance.

It is also essential to encourage ethics that promote ecological prosperity and incorporate solutions to resolve the environmental crisis. This will in turn share success and fulfil the responsibility of individuals to end historical prejudices.

Similarly, we must also adopt a mental and spiritual ideology that embodies a helpful attitude to spread harmony. We must also recognize diversity and integration for expressing emotion to enhance our friendship with everyone from different cultures.

Finally, it must be everyone’s noble mission to promote peace by expressing its contribution to the long-lasting well-being factor of everyone’s lives. Thus, we must all try our level best to maintain peace and harmony.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Peace

To sum it up, peace is essential to control the evils which damage our society. It is obvious that we will keep facing crises on many levels but we can manage them better with the help of peace. Moreover, peace is vital for humankind to survive and strive for a better future.

FAQ of Essay on Peace

Question 1: What is the importance of peace?

Answer 1: Peace is the way that helps us prevent inequity and violence. It is no less than a golden ticket to enter a new and bright future for mankind. Moreover, everyone plays an essential role in this so that everybody can get a more equal and peaceful world.

Question 2: What exactly is peace?

Answer 2: Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in which there is no hostility and violence. In social terms, we use it commonly to refer to a lack of conflict, such as war. Thus, it is freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups.

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Essay on International Day of Peace for Students

International Day of Peace

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The International Day of Peace is a day to celebrate and promote peace as a common aspiration and a shared responsibility for all humanity.

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Peace is one of the most precious values that humans aspire for. Peace means harmony, cooperation, and respect among people and nations. Peace also means freedom from violence, war, and conflicts that cause suffering and destruction. However, peace is not always easy to achieve or maintain. It requires constant efforts, dialogue, and compromise from all parties involved.

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that was founded in 1945 after the Second World War, with the main purpose of maintaining international peace and security. The UN has played a vital role in resolving many conflicts around the world, as well as promoting human rights, development, and cooperation. The UN also recognizes the importance of celebrating and promoting peace as a universal value and a common goal for all humanity.

That is why the UN established the International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day, in 1981. The International Day of Peace is observed annually on 21 September. It is a day dedicated to world peace, and specifically to the absence of war and violence. The UN General Assembly has declared this day as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, and has invited all countries and people to observe it.

Significance of the International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace has a great significance for the world, as it reminds us of the need to work together for a more peaceful and just society. The International Day of Peace also provides an opportunity for individuals and organizations to take action for peace in various ways, such as:

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  • Organizing or participating in events, activities, and campaigns that promote peace education, culture, and dialogue.
  • Raising awareness and mobilizing public opinion on the causes and consequences of violence and conflict, and the ways to prevent and resolve them.
  • Supporting the efforts of the UN and other actors to mediate and facilitate peace processes and agreements.
  • Advocating for the respect of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, as well as for the protection of civilians, especially women and children, in conflict zones.
  • Expressing solidarity and compassion with the victims and survivors of violence and conflict, and providing humanitarian assistance and relief to them.
  • Celebrating the achievements and contributions of peacebuilders, peacemakers, and peacekeepers around the world.
  • Praying and meditating for peace, individually or collectively.

Examples of the International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace has been celebrated in many different ways around the world since its inception. Some examples are:

  • In 1984, the UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar inaugurated the first Peace Bell at the UN Headquarters in New York. The bell is made from coins donated by children from all continents except Africa, and bears the inscription “Long live absolute world peace”. The bell is rung every year on 21 September to mark the International Day of Peace.
  • In 1996, a proposal was made by Vincent Coyle from Northern Ireland to expand the International Day of Peace to include reconciliation. He suggested distributing white doves as symbols of peace after a formal presentation at the UN. The idea was debated at Seanad Éireann (the upper house of the Irish parliament) but was not implemented.
  • In 2001, a new resolution was passed by the UN General Assembly to give the International Day of Peace a fixed date (21 September) and declare it also as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. The resolution was sponsored by the United Kingdom (giving credit to Peace One Day, a non-governmental organization founded by Jeremy Gilley) and Costa Rica (the original sponsors of the day).
  • In 2007, Ban Ki-moon became the first UN Secretary-General to observe the International Day of Peace in Afghanistan. He visited Kabul and met with President Hamid Karzai, as well as with representatives of civil society and women’s groups. He also laid a wreath at a memorial for UN staff members killed in Afghanistan.
  • In 2011, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Peace, millions of people around the world participated in various events organized by civil society groups under the theme “Make Your Voice Heard”. A live global broadcast was also held from New York, featuring messages from celebrities, musicians, artists, activists, and leaders.
  • In 2014, Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, addressed more than 500 young leaders at the UN Youth Assembly on 21 September. She called for education as a fundamental right for all children, especially girls, who are often denied access to school due to poverty or violence. She also urged young people to stand up for their rights and dreams.
  • In 2019, António Guterres, the current UN Secretary-General, visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea on 21 September. He praised the efforts of the two Koreas to reduce tensions and build trust, and expressed his hope for a peaceful and denuclearized Korean Peninsula. He also met with the UN Command and the UN Military Armistice Commission, which monitor the ceasefire agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953.

The International Day of Peace is a day to celebrate and promote peace as a common aspiration and a shared responsibility for all humanity. It is also a day to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that we face in building a more peaceful and inclusive world. The International Day of Peace reminds us that peace is not only the absence of war, but also the presence of justice, dignity, and human rights for all. It also reminds us that peace is not a static or passive state, but a dynamic and active process that requires constant dialogue, cooperation, and compromise from all parties involved. The International Day of Peace encourages us to take action for peace in our own lives, in our communities, and in our world. Let us all join hands and hearts on this day, and every day, to create a culture of peace for ourselves and for future generations.

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International Peace Essay Contest

Created to give an opportunity for visually impaired young people to express their feelings of peace, the International Essay Contest is a staple of Lions clubs around the world. Lions work with local schools and area families to identify young people who are interested in participating and who could benefit from this program. One grand prize winner will receives an award and US$5,000.

The 2024-2025 Contest

Peace without limits.

For peace to be anything more than a possibility, we need to make it a priority. This year, we’re asking our young students to write an essay that speaks to our world’s infinite potential for kindness once we commit to pursuing the idea of peace without limits.

Contest Guidelines 

Students who are visually impaired, ages 11, 12 or 13 on November 15, are eligible to participate. Each essay must be submitted with a completed entry form. Essays must be no longer than 500 words in length, submitted in English, typed in black ink and double-spaced.

Complete Rules and Entry Form

Additional Resources

Peace Essay Club Level Winner Press Release Template

The 2023-2024 Essay Winner

“dare to dream”.

Yetka Yağiz Demírtas 12 years old Türkiye

Sponsored by the Istanbul Altinepe Lions Club

Past Winners

Take a look back at the winning essays and essay winners throughout the years.

  • 2022-2023 “Lead With Compassion” by Keaton Hamilton age 11: Read the Essay | Watch the Video Sponsored by: Newmarket Lions Club
  • 2021-2022 "We Are All Connected" by Shreya Zoy age 13:  Read the Essay | Watch the Video Sponsored by: Mannuthy Agri City Lions Club
  • 2020-2021 “Peace Through Service” by Joshua Wood age 13:  Read the Essay | Watch the Video Sponsored by: Brisbane Camphill Carindale Lions Club
  • 2019-2020 “Journey of Peace” by Joseph Critchlow age 13:  Read the Essay | Watch the Video Sponsored by: City of Liverpool Lions Club, United Kingdom
  • 2018-2019 "Kindness Matters" by Mikayla Ansley, age 11: Read the Essay | Watch the Video Sponsored by: Blyth Lions Club, Canada
  • 2017-2018 "The Future of Peace" by Ely Potter, age 13: Read the Essay | Watch the Video  Sponsored by: Delaware Lions Club, Ohio, USA
  • 2016-2017 "A Celebration of Peace" by Charlie Bruskotter, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Delaware Lions Club, Ohio, USA
  • 2015-2016 "Share Peace" by Joel Greek, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Gordons Bay Lions Club, Republic of South Africa
  • 2014-2015 "Peace, Love and Understanding" by Jalen Ballard, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Sylvania Sunrise Lions Club, Ohio, USA
  • 2013-2014 "Our World, Our Future" by Ashish Karki, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Kathmandu Ramechhap Lions Club, Nepal
  • 2012-2013 "Imagine Peace" by Maura Loberg, age 11: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Wayne Lions Club, Wayne, Nebraska, USA
  • 2011-2012 "Children Know Peace" by Mikaela Smith, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Chesterton Lions Club, Indiana, USA
  • 2010-2011 "Power of Peace" by Amy Bosko, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Villa Park Lions Club, Illinois, USA
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International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace is celebrated on 21 September , every year, by the United Nations. On this day, the UN sends invites to nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, also to commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace. This day is also called  World Peace Day.

As UPSC surprises aspirants with questions linked with what usually is assumed to be trivia; it is advisable that one must scroll through the facts about International Day of Peace to get the basic information. It can be asked in UPSC Prelims from the section of current affairs, if at all asked.

List of Current Affairs Articles for UPSC

Facts about International Day of Peace

Read the below-mentioned facts and aid your IAS Exam preparation along with other competitive exams’ preparation. 

The topic can be asked as a Current Affairs Question in IAS Prelims. Visit the attached link to attempt practice quizzes on current affairs .

To read more about the other Important International and National days click on the link. Such days and events become very important for UPSC Prelims.

About International Day of Peace, 2021

  • The idea behind observing International Day Of Peace is to strengthen the ideals of peace by observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire . The day promotes global solidarity to build a peaceful and sustainable world for future generations.
  • Theme of International Day of Peace in year 2021 was “ Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world ”. 
  • The focus of the theme was to help everyone build resilience, to recover better  and to transform the world into a place which is more just, equal, equitable, inclusive, sustainable & healthier.
  • In the digital age the day also aims to celebrate peace by standing up against acts of hate online and offline. During the pandemic it becomes even more significant to observe peace by spreading compassion, kindness and hope.

Background of International Day Of Peace

  • The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly.
  • Then two decades later, in 2001 the UN General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire by adopting Resolution adopted 53/243 B –  Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.

Also, read in detail about the UN General Assembly in the linked article.

Significance of International Day of Peace

  • The International Day of Peace plays a significant role in promoting peace across the world, by observing a period of non-violence and cease-fire .
  • The day also seeks to promote a green and sustainable global economy which can create jobs, build resilience towards crimes and reduce emissions for lowering climate impacts.
  • International Day of Peace is dedicated to fostering dialogue and collecting ideas to build a peaceful world.

Also, read about The International Day of Non-Violence which is  observed on 2nd October to celebrate the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.

Challenges of Keeping Peace

  • Global Unrest and wars have disturbed the world-peace. According to the World Population Review the wars have resulted in the loss of many lives in 2019,  8 countries i.e. Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Turkey, Somalia, Iraq, Mexico and Libya suffered over 1000 deaths each.
  • The armed conflicts and persecution have led to the Refugee Crisis . According to the UN Refugee Agency , because of these reasons alone 79.5 million were displaced at the end of 2019.
  • Global Powers like USA, Russia and China have been fueling instability in order to quench the thirst of achieving geopolitical hegemony . E.g. Yemen Crisis , Afghanistan Instability.
  • Also, the Covid-19 Pandemic has impacted global peace through lack of access to resources, health and education.

Way Forward

In order to gain a world free of conflict, we must strive for bringing a change in structure and nature of world politics, which is not a child’s play. In the current pandemic, there is a need to stand together with the UN against attempts to use the virus to promote discrimination or hatred. Intellectuals, social movements and responsible states should prioritise struggling for an equitable world order. Nothing less will suffice to silence the guns.

Note : As UPSC 2023 approaches, use BYJU’S free Daily Video Analysis of The Hindu Newspaper to augment your preparation.

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International Day of Peace

artwork of a dove

What do you know about the International Day of Peace? Read this article to find out what this special day is all about.

Do the preparation exercise first. Then read the article and do the other exercises.

Preparation

Everyone has the right to a safe and happy life, but millions of people around the world are suffering because of war and violence. The International Day of Peace, on 21 September every year, is a day when we try to make a more peaceful world for everyone.

What does 'peace' mean?

Peace means different things to different people. To many, peace means no violence or war. It means living without being frightened or worried. Peace also means being kind to other people and living with them without fights or arguments. 

What happens when there is war? 

War destroys people's families, homes and lives. Wherever you live, hearing about violence and war can make you feel frightened, sad, angry or worried. If you have these feelings, talk to a parent, a teacher or another adult you trust. Remember that many people are working hard to end the wars and violence happening around the world.

What happens on the International Day of Peace?

On 21 September, at midday, there is a minute of silence. This happens in all the time zones across the world. People take part in lots of other events on this day, for example they play football matches, do yoga, watch films or listen to concerts. The dove is the symbol of peace, and many schoolchildren create artwork and decorations with doves to celebrate. Some children write messages and poems about peace or sing special songs. 

What can we do every day for peace?

You can try to bring peace to your own life by saying sorry and making peace with someone you know. Or you can try to help stop arguments among your friends and classmates. Standing up against bullying at school is also an important way to bring peace to the people around you. Small actions add up to great things when they are multiplied by millions of people all over the planet, and we can all help make the world a more peaceful place.   

What can you do to be kind and peaceful to other people? Tell us about it!

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Rotary History

Promoting peace: rotary’s peacebuilding history around the world.

From a pre-World War I resolution calling for “the maintenance of peace” to our continuing support for Rotary Peace Centers, Rotary and its members have a long history of promoting peace and working to address the underlying causes of conflict in communities around the world.

Lending our influence

Rotarians from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, proposed before the 1914 Rotary Convention that the International Association of Rotary Clubs (now Rotary International) “lend its influence to the maintenance of peace among the nations of the world.” Delegates at the convention, which took place just weeks before Europe became engulfed in war, agreed.

It was a bold statement for a relatively young organization that had become international only two years earlier and had a presence in just a handful of countries.

Chester Williams, a British expert on Anglo-American relations, answers questions from high school students during an Institute of International Understanding event in Michigan, USA, circa 1943.

The Objects of Rotary

With memories of the Great War fresh in their minds, delegates to the 1921 convention in Edinburgh, Scotland, amended the association’s constitution to include the goal “to aid in the advancement of international peace and goodwill through a fellowship of business and professional men of all nations united in the Rotary ideal of service.”

Delegates to the 1922 convention made sweeping changes to the Rotary International and club constitutions. Separate objectives for each were replaced with the Objects of Rotary (now called the Object of Rotary). The new approach, however, retained the vision for peace.

Institutes of International Understanding

An early effort to achieve this objective involved Rotarians in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, who organized a program in 1934 to encourage and foster international understanding. It included 11 days of public community meetings, bringing in prominent authors, economists, scientists, politicians, and commentators to discuss issues such as the economy, world peace, and scientific advances.

The idea, which came to be known as Institutes of International Understanding, was well-received, and in 1936, Rotary International suggested that other Rotary clubs emulate it. While clubs were responsible for arranging local institutes, The Rotary Foundation helped pay for speakers’ expenses beyond what clubs could afford. Over the next decade, 965 clubs in the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand sponsored hundreds of institutes that drew thousands of people eager to learn more about the world beyond their own borders.

World War II

During World War II, Rotary members looked for ways to create a stable and peaceful world. In 1940, convention delegates adopted a statement, Rotary Amid World Conflict, which emphasized that “where freedom, justice, truth, sanctity of the pledged word, and respect for human rights do not exist, Rotary cannot live nor its ideal prevail.” Walter D. Head, then Rotary International’s president, remarked that there must be a better way to settle international differences than violence and called on Rotarians to find it.

“Peace Is a Process,” a 1944 compilation of articles from The Rotarian magazine, focused on the new opportunities for international cooperation that would appear when the war ended. In “Setting the Pattern for Peace,” historian and diplomat James Shotwell explained the differences between the failed League of Nations and the approach taken to form the United Nations.

The Rotarian magazine ran essays by authors, politicians, and other well-known figures that encouraged discussion on the topic of peace. Rotary published collections of these essays as “A World to Live In” (1942) and “Peace Is a Process” (1944). Recognizing that the end of the war didn’t eliminate the need to discuss these topics, Rotary continued the series with “Peace Demands Action” in 1947.

The United Nations

Rotary was present at the start of the United Nations in 1945. Rotary International was one of 42 organizations invited to serve as consultants to the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, California, USA (commonly called the UN charter conference). Additionally, many Rotary members and honorary members from around the world attended the conference as members of and consultants to their nations’ delegations.

Rotary and the United Nations remain committed to creating lasting change that enhances international relationships, improves lives and communities, and creates a more peaceful world.

Today, Rotary International holds the highest consultative status offered to a nongovernmental organization by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (UNESCO). The Rotary Representative Network, established in 1991, maintains and furthers this relationship with several UN bodies, programs, commissions, and agencies.

Scholarships

Rotary founder Paul Harris recognized the connection between international understanding and peace. In a message to the 1921 convention, Harris had written, “Rotary believes that the better the people of one nation understand the people of other nations, the less the likelihood of friction, and Rotary will therefore encourage acquaintance and friendships between individuals of different nations.”

Scholarships for graduate study in other countries became the first program of The Rotary Foundation in 1947. The idea of sending a student abroad for at least a year of university study was part of an effort to encourage higher education and promote greater understanding between people of different cultures and nationalities.

After Harris’ death that year, donations to The Rotary Foundation (Harris had requested them in lieu of flowers) began flooding in to Rotary headquarters. The Paul Harris Memorial Fund was designated for the newly created scholarship program.

Called the Paul Harris Foundation Fellowships For Advanced Study, it supported 18 scholars in its first year. Later it became known as the Ambassadorial Scholarships and lasted until 2013, when graduate-level scholarships were incorporated into district and global grants.

Peace Forums

To raise awareness about issues that cause conflict and activities that promote peace, Rotary created Peace Forums as a three-year pilot program. Rotary leaders and invited guests explored topics such as “Nongovernmental Organizations and the Search for Peace” at the first Peace Forum held in 1988 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

In 1990, the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation broadened the program and changed the name to Rotary Peace Programs.

Rotary Peace Centers

At various times, Rotary members had proposed creating a university to promote peace, but the concept never seemed feasible. In the 1990s, Rotary leaders were inspired by the 50th anniversary of Harris’ death to consider an alternate approach.

The idea was simple, but the impact would be tremendous: Rotary would encourage people already engaged in peacebuilding as a career to apply for graduate-level study in the field, and The Rotary Foundation would provide scholarships to peace fellows that would allow them to enroll in established peace programs at existing universities.

Rotary approved the creation of Rotary Peace Centers program in 1999, and the inaugural class of Rotary Peace Fellows began their studies in 2002.

Rotary Peace Centers, located at universities around the world, develop leaders who become catalysts for peace in local communities and on the global stage. They study the causes of conflict and build practical skills exploring innovative solutions to real-world problems in areas such as human rights, international relations, and global health and development.

Rotary is not a university and yet it has an educational task to perform, and that task is to divert the world mind to thoughts of friendly cooperation. — Arch Klumph, father of The Rotary Foundation, in a speech to the 1921 convention

Peace for all time

Rotary’s goal today is to create environments where peace can be built and maintained through sustainable and measurable activities in communities worldwide. Peacebuilding remains a cornerstone of our mission as a humanitarian service organization.

Read more stories of Rotary peacemaking and find out how you can make an impact.

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Essay on “International Day of Peace  – September 21” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

International Day of Peace  –  September 21

The General Assembly, in resolution 55/282 of 7 September 2001, decided that, beginning in 2002, the International Day of peace should be observed on 21 September each year. The Assembly declared that the Day be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non- violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the day.

It invited all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, regional and non- governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate the day in an appropriate manner, including through education and public awareness, and to cooperate with the United Nations in establishing a global ceasefire.

The International Day of Peace, established  by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the September 1982. Beginning on the 20 th anniversary in 2002, the UN General Assembly set 21 September as the date for the International Day of Peace.

Concept of peace

Peace is a common desire of people throughout the world. The establishment of the United Nations in 1945, at the end of the most devastating war  in human history, was an embodiment of this universal desire. Keeping peace and developing friendly relations among nations are among the main objectives of the United Nations.

Peace is more than absence of war. It is about transforming our socities and uniting our global community to work together for a more peaceful, just and sustainable world for ALL.

The most common way of commemorating the Day is by observing a moment of silence. In many countries,     local civic groups and schools hold special events and ceremonies. The true meaning of the day lies in the participation of people around the world , gathering to think about the meaning of peace and their commitment to its realization.

What can we do?

  • Organize a peace Walk.
  • Raise the UN flag and flags of the countries of the world.
  • Sing a peace song.
  • Have a group meeting.
  • Visit a hospital or nursing home.
  • Volunteer at a recycling center.
  • Plant a tree.
  • Make a new friend.

In establishing the International Day of Peace. the United Nations General Assembly decided that it would be appropriate.

“to devote a specific time to concentrate the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States , as well as of the whole of making, the promote the ideals of peace and to give positive evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways. ………  the International Day of Peace should be devoted to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.”

The Assembly’s resolution declared that the International Day of Peace.

“will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our Organizations, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the Organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace. May this peace Day indeed be a day of peace.”

The amended Resolution adopted in 2001 permanently fixed the date of the  International Day of peace to September 21.

“The Assembly, reaffirming the contribution that the observance and celebration of the International  Day of peace make in strengthening the ideals of peace and alleviating tensions and causes of conflict, (decided that ) beginning with the fifty- seventh session, the day should be observed on 21 September each year, with this date to be brought to the attention of all people for the celebration and observance of peace.”

The new resolution added the call for the international day of peace to be a Global Ceasefire:

“Declares that the International Day of Peace shall henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day….”

Peace Education

Peace Education is a broader discipline. Disarmament education. Human rights education, environment education, education, for non-violence, education for international understanding, and global education are the branches of peace education are the branches of peace education. It enables the learners in creating a culture of peace, which helps in building a non – violent and just society.

Peace Education should be constructed upon the curriculum that   aims to teach justice , altruism, tolerance, principles of equity, trusteeship, non-violence, human rights, disarmament, and environmental problem and issues, including other principles of Democracy.

Peace Education is indispensable for the  continued existence of the Human race. Peace education is also momentous in today’s  world of racial intolerance, communal violence, and  religious fanaticism. Peace education is mandatory for it teaches tolerance , respect  for diversity, and acceptance of differences.

What, Where, When , Why & How?

What : The International Day of Peace provides an occasion for individuals, organizations and  nations to create practical acts of Peace on a shared date. Use the International Day of Peace annually to annually to highlight the Decade for a Culture of peace and Non- Violence for the Children of the World, 2001 to 2010.

When : Annually, 21 September- The International Day of Peace

Where : Wherever you are.

Who : You and all who care about building Cultures of peace for the Children of this and future generations.

Why : to mark our individual and collective progress toward building Cultures of Peace, and serve as a reminder of our permanent commitment to Peace, above all interests and differences of any kind.

How : Through a range of paths  to personal and planetary

International Decade for Peace (2001-2010)

The United Nations as the respected world body and forum for global issues, including peace and security, is once again a leader  in pressing societies for the establishment of  initiatives promoting reconciliation. The Un Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) acting as the lead UN agency, is promoting the International Decade for a culture of peace and Non- Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010). 

The Decade’s mandate stresses the principles of non- violence espoused so strongly during the International Year  for the Culture  of peace’s (IYCP-2000) but focuses increasingly upon the plight of  millions of children worldwide, and the need to create and implement non- violent strategies to alleviate to that plight.

Culture of Peace Programme (CPP)

Originally, the Culture of Peace Programme (CPP) was created in 1994 for the promotion of standards that would encourage and enhance peaceful co-existence, the successful programme blossomed into the Year for the Culture of Peace (2000). With the popularity of the principles of the year, and the perseverance of peace and non- violence advocates, the International decade for a Culture of Peace and Non- Violence for the Children of the World was established by UN General Assembly resolution 53/25.

Chief among the activities required to promote non-violence among children in all communities is education. Both formal and informal education provides children with the necessary tools for acquiring  the knowledge base, skills, values, attitudes and behaviors associated with non-violence. The basic values and attitudes for life, as enunciated in the General Assembly Resolution establishing the Decade, are considered by the UN to be elements indispensable for capturing the quintessence of non- violence.

The media plays an important role with respect to the evolution and promotion of the Principles of non-violence and peace. especially within the span of the last ten years, there has been a fundamental transformation of the communications industry. The internet has knowledge gap  on many levels, while at the  same time providing a form of communication through user-to-user integration. As a medium that is especially appealing to children, the Internet has the ability to provide an effective means by which children are able to communicate with other children, with outreach organizations and with policy creation and lobbying organizations worldwide.

The fundamental principles of the International Year for a Culture of Peace continue and have been enhanced with the launch of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non- violence Among the Children of the World. Awareness of issues concerning non- violence must become imperative for the successful advancement of a culture of peace during the first decade of the new millennium.      

Appeal of the Noble Peace Prize Laureates for the Children of the World

Today, in every single country throughout the world there are many children silently suffering the effects and consequences of violence, this violence takes many different forms: between children on streets, at school in family life and in the community. There is physical violence, psychological violence, socio- economic violence, environmental violence and political violence. Many children- too many children – live in a “ Culture of violence”. We wish to contribute to reduce their suffering. We believe that each child can discover, by himself, that violence is not inevitable. We can offer hope, not only to the children of the world, but to all of humanity, by beginning to create, and build, a new Culture of Nonviolence.  

For this reason, we address this solemn appeal to all Heads of States, of all member countries of the General Assembly of the United Nations , for the UN General Assembly to declare: That the first decade of the new millennium, the years 20012010,  be declared the “Decade for a Culture of Nonviolence” : that at the start of the decade the year 2000 be declared the “Year of Education for Nonviolence”; that nonviolence be taught at every level in our societies during this decade, to make the children of the world aware of the real, practical meaning and benefits of nonviolence in their daily lives, in order to reduce the violence , and consequent suffering , perpetrated against them and humanity in general. Together, we can build a new culture of nonviolence for humankind that will give hope to all humanity, and in particular, to the children of our world. [ With deepest respect, The Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.] 

Towards a Global Culture of Peace

The culture of peace provides an alternative to the escalating cycle of violence in the world. Our biological legacy of aggression is the basis of our capacity for righteous indignation against injustice that is essential for peace activism and peace education over the course of history , humans have developed a culture that permits and encourage war and violence. Think of it this way what do you need to have a war?  

  • A society in which people follow orders
  • A belief that power can be maintained through violence
  • Control of information (secrecy, propaganda)
  • Profitability – whether for plunder, colonies, economic domination or the profits of the military –industrial complex.

In fact, if any one of these is missing, you cant’s have war. No enemy – no war. No armaments- no war. No control of information – no war. And if people don’t follow orders and if they don’t believe that power can be maintained through violence – no war.

There is only one way out from the cycle of violence; a culture of peace :

  • Understanding, tolerance & solidarity
  • Disarmament, universal & verifiable
  • Democratic participation
  • The free flow & sharing of information
  • Dialogue, negotiation , rule of law, active non – violence
  • The equality of women
  • Education for peace
  • Economies of peace with equitable, sustainable development.

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essay on world peace

essay on world peace

Category:  Essays and Paragraphs On November 22, 2018 By Mary

World peace

World peace can be referred to as the state of people from all countries in the world being happy and living harmoniously with each other.

World peace creates one international community that can concentrate on greater issues that are affecting the planet like climate change.

When countries work together, they benefit their citizens since they can freely move from one country to another for employment, education or tourism.

Importance of world peace

  • World peace leads to  increased globalization . Globalization is the act where people from different countries are able to interact freely with each other in various aspects.
  • World peace also leads to the  promotion of tourism . With peace, people are freer to tour any country of their choice without fear of violence.
  • World peace also contributes to  cultural exchanges . People are able to interact freely with each other and they can learn different cultures from other people.
  • World peace also contributes to  more   developed economies . This is because people are able to carry out both domestic and foreign investments without fear of the risk of future violence.
  • World peace also contributes to the  unification of people to fight unfair vices.  People are able to speak with one voice to get rid of vices like racism, religious discrimination and gender inequality.
  • World peace also contributes to the  reduction of wars . Warring countries or internal nation conflicts can be reduced if world peace existed. War is the main cause of human suffering in the world.
  • With world peace, you are also assured of  increased freedom of people . People get more freedom whether they are from different religions, race or country. This promotes global cohesion.

How to achieve world peace

  • We can achieve world peace through having  international bodies  that will ensure that every nation upholds world peace. Such a body is United Nations and other world organizations that ensure every country has the responsibility of promoting peace.
  • We can also achieve world peace through  upholding democracy . The main cause of world violence is dictatorship. When countries have the freedom to vote, they are able to choose the right leaders who are peace friendly.
  • World peace is also achieved through  globalization . When globalization is encouraged, countries will uphold peace since they will avoid going into war with countries that have economic ties with them.
  • We achieve world peace when there is  equal representation of nations in international bodies.  This will ensure that no nation is oppressed and no nation is left behind. When some nations are not represented, it creates inequality which may stir violence.
  • World peace can also be achieved by  raising awareness  of the importance of world peace. Nations can create awareness to their citizens by teaching them on the benefits that they will get when they have peaceful coexistence with other nations.
  • World peace can also be achieved by  sharing the country’s wealth equally . This is by giving equal opportunities to all and not overtaxing the poor. This will reduce the cases of rebel movements.

World peace is very important in the growth and prosperity of the entire global community. This is because with world peace, we are able to have more social cohesion and interactions that are beneficial to everyone.

Security Questions Emerge as First Charges Are Filed in Russia Attack

Russian officials formally charged four men in the attack, which killed at least 137 people at a Moscow-area concert hall on Friday. American officials blamed a branch of the Islamic State.

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[object Object]

  • A memorial outside the Crocus City Hall concert venue. Reuters
  • People waiting to visit a memorial at Crocus City Hall. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times
  • Leaving flowers outside the site of the attack. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times
  • Mourners at a memorial in St. Petersburg, Russia. Anton Vaganov/Reuters
  • Firefighters and rescuers clearing debris after the deadly attack. Reuters
  • Police officers outside the Basmanny District Court in Moscow. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Associated Press
  • People waited to donate blood near Crocus City Hall on Saturday. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times
  • A flag flying at half-staff as policemen guard the closed entrance to Red Square in Moscow. Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA, via Shutterstock
  • A billboard on Saturday noted the date of the concert hall attack in Moscow. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times
  • The Crocus City Hall concert venue in suburban Moscow after it was attacked Friday night. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times

Paul Sonne

Paul Sonne and Neil MacFarquhar

Here’s what to know about the attack.

Russian officials have brought charges against four men they said were responsible for a fiery terrorist attack on a suburban Moscow concert venue that killed at least 137 people last week.

Four men were arraigned late Sunday night on terrorism charges in the attack at Crocus City Hall, just outside the Russian capital. A court spokesman identified them as Dalerjon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni and Muhammadsobir Fayzov, a 19-year-old who appeared in court in a wheelchair, according to Russian media outlets.

Mr. Mirzoyev, Mr. Rachabalizoda and Mr. Fariduni told the court they were from Tajikistan, and Russian media outlets reported that Mr. Fayzov was also from the Central Asian nation. All four had visible injuries; Mr. Rachabalizoda’s head was heavily bandaged and Mr. Fayzov had to be wheeled in and out of the courtroom.

Earlier Sunday — which had been declared a national day of mourning — people visited the scene of the attack to lay flowers and light candles at a memorial. Scores of people waited in a long line under a gray sky, many clutching red bouquets, as efforts were underway inside to dismantle the remains of the stage. Flags were lowered to half-staff at buildings across the country, and state media released a video of President Vladimir V. Putin lighting a memorial candle in a church.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, a top law-enforcement body, said on Sunday that 137 bodies had been recovered from the charred premises, including those of three children. It said that 62 victims had been identified so far and that genetic testing was underway to identify the rest.

There are two primary narratives about the violence on Friday night, Russia’s deadliest terrorist attack in 20 years . American officials say it was the work of Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, an Islamic State offshoot that has been active in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran . But on Saturday, Mr. Putin did not mention ISIS in his first public remarks on the tragedy , and hinted at the possible involvement of Ukraine, which has issued a strong denial .

Here’s what to know:

The search for survivors ended on Saturday, as details about the victims began to emerge . Many of the more than 100 people wounded in the attack were in critical condition. The search for bodies continues.

As Russia mourned, the war in Ukraine continued. Ukraine’s air force said it had shot down 43 out of 57 Russian missiles and drones launched overnight against different parts of the country. And Ukraine’s military said it had struck two large landing ships that were part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. There was no immediate comment from Russia’s Defense Ministry.

Piknik, the Russian rock band that was to play a sold-out concert at the suburban venue on the night it was attacked and burned to rubble, now finds itself at the center of the tragedy .

The attack dealt a political blow to Mr. Putin , a leader for whom national security is paramount.

Neil MacFarquhar

Russia charges four people with terrorism after attack on concert hall.

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The four men suspected of carrying out a bloody attack on a concert hall near Moscow, killing at least 137 people, were arraigned in a district court late Sunday and charged with committing a terrorist act.

The four, who were from Tajikistan but worked as migrant laborers in Russia, were remanded in custody until May 22, according to state and independent media outlets reporting from the proceedings, at Basmanny District Court. They face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The press service of the court only announced that the first two defendants, Dalerjon B. Mirzoyev and Saidakrami M. Rachalbalizoda, pleaded guilty to the charges. It did not specify any plea from the other two, Mediazona, an independent news outlet, reported.

The men looked severely battered and injured as each of them was brought into the courtroom separately. Videos of them being tortured and beaten while under interrogation circulated widely on Russian social media.

Muhammadsobir Z. Fayzov, a 19-year-old barber and the youngest of the men charged, was rolled into the courtroom from a hospital emergency room on a tall, orange wheelchair, attended by a doctor, the reports said. He sat propped up in the wheelchair inside the glass cage for defendants, wearing a catheter and an open hospital gown with his chest partially exposed. Often speaking in Tajik through a translator, he answered questions about his biography quietly and stammered, according to Mediazona.

Mr. Rachabalizoda, 30, had a large bandage hanging off the right side of his head where interrogators had sliced off a part of his ear and forced it into his mouth, the reports said, with the cutting captured in a video that spread online.

The judge allowed the press to witness only parts of the hearings, citing concerns that sensitive details about the investigation might be revealed or the lives of court workers put at risk. It is not an unusual ruling in Russia.

Russia’s Federal Security Services announced on Saturday that 11 people had been detained, including the four charged men, who were arrested after the car they were fleeing in was intercepted by the authorities 230 miles southwest of Moscow.

In the attack, on Friday night, four gunmen opened fire inside the hall just as a rock concert by the group Piknik was due to start. They also set off explosive devices that ignited the building and eventually caused its roof to collapse. Aside from the dead, there were 182 injured, and more than 100 remain hospitalized, according to the regional health ministry.

President Vladimir V. Putin used the fact that the highway where the men were detained leads to Ukraine to suggest that the attack was somehow linked to Ukraine’s war effort. But the United States has said repeatedly that the attack was the work of an extremist jihadi organization, the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility.

The first charged, Mr. Mirzoyev, who had a black eye and cuts and bruises all over his face, leaned for support against the glass wall of the court cage as the charge against him was read. Mr. Mirzoyev, 32, has four children and had a temporary residence permit in the southern Siberian city of Novosibirsk, but it had expired, the reports said.

Mr. Rachabalizoda, married with a child, said he was legally registered in Russia but did not remember where.

The fourth man charged, Shamsidin Fariduni, 25, married with an 8-month-old baby, worked in a factory producing parquet in the Russian city of Podolsk, just southwest of Moscow. He had also worked as a handyman in Krasnogorsk, the Moscow suburb where the attack took place at Crocus City Hall, at a concert venue within a sprawling shopping complex just outside the Moscow city limits.

The Islamic State has been able to recruit hundreds of adherents among migrant laborers from Central Asia in Russia who are often angry about the discrimination they frequently face.

Alina Lobzina , Paul Sonne and Milana Mazaeva contributed reporting.

international peace day essay

Maps and Diagrams of the Moscow Concert Hall Attack

The mass shooting and arson at a suburban Moscow concert venue, which killed more than 130, were attributed by U.S. officials to members of a branch of the Islamic State.

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The other two men charged in the attack are Shamsidin Fariduni, 26, and 19-year-old Muhammadsobir Fayzov, who appeared in court in a wheelchair. All four men who've been charged have been identified by a court spokesman on Telegram. They appeared separately before a judge on charges of committing a terrorist act and were remanded in custody until May 22.

Russian authorities have begun naming the suspects in the attack. The first two suspects have been identified as Dalerjon Mirzoyev and Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, according to state news agency RIA Novosti, which is reporting from the court. Both have been charged with committing a terrorist act and face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

RIA reported that Mirzoyev is a 32-year-old from Tajikistan who had an expired three-month permit to be in the southern Russian city of Novosibirsk. Less information was immediately released about Rachabalizoda, but state media reports said he was born in 1994.

Valerie Hopkins

Valerie Hopkins and Alina Lobzina

Concertgoers describe screams, smoke and stares of shock in a night of horror.

Once they heard the shots ring out on Friday night at Crocus City Hall, Efim Fidrya and his wife ran down to the building’s basement and hid with three others in a bathroom.

They listened as the gunfire began and thousands of people who had come to a sold-out rock concert on Moscow’s outskirts began screaming and trying to flee.

Horrified and scared, Mr. Fidrya did the only thing he could think to do: He held on tight to the bathroom door, which didn’t lock, trying to protect the group in case the assailants came to find them.

“While we could hear shooting and screaming, I stood the whole time holding the bathroom door shut,” Mr. Fidrya, an academic, said in a phone interview from Moscow. “The others were standing in the corner so that if someone started shooting through the door, they wouldn’t be in the line of fire.”

They didn’t know it then, but they were sheltering from what became Russia’s deadliest terror attack in two decades, after four gunmen had entered the popular concert venue and began shooting rapid-fire weapons.

Their story is one of many harrowing accounts that have emerged in the days since the attack, which killed at least 137 people. More than 100 injured people are hospitalized, some in critical condition, health officials said.

Mr. Fidrya’s small group waited and waited, but the attackers had started a fire in the complex and it was spreading. Mr. Fidrya’s wife, Olga, showed everyone how to wet their T-shirts and hold them to their faces so they could breathe without inhaling toxic smoke.

And then a second round of shots rang out.

After about half an hour, it was so smoky that Mr. Fidrya, 42, thought even the assailants must have left. As he ventured out, he saw the body of a dead woman lying by the escalator. Later he saw the body of another woman who had been killed in the carnage, her distraught husband standing over her.

His group went down into the parking garage and eventually emerged on the street as the emergency service workers were carrying victims from the building.

The Islamic State, through its news agency, claimed responsibility for the attack. U.S. officials said the assailants were believed to be part of ISIS-K, an Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan. On Saturday, Russia’s Federal Security Services announced that 11 people had been detained, including four who were arrested after the car they were fleeing in was intercepted by authorities 230 miles southwest of Moscow.

In interviews, survivors described how what started as a typical Friday night out devolved into a scene of panic and terror. The venue, which seated 6,200 people, had been sold out for a show by a veteran Russian band called Piknik.

Video footage from the scene shows the assailants shooting at the entrance to the concert venue, part of a sprawling, upscale complex of buildings that also includes a shopping mall and multiple exhibition halls. They then moved into the concert hall, where they sprayed gunfire as well, videos show.

The attackers also set the building on fire using a combination of explosives and flammable liquid, Russian authorities said.

Like the Fidryas, Tatyana Farafontova initially thought the sound of the shooting was part of the show.

“Five minutes before the show was supposed to start, we heard these dull claps,” she wrote on her VK social media page. Ms. Farafontova, 38, said in a direct message on Saturday that she was still in shock and was slurring her speech after the attack.

Then the claps got closer and someone shouted that there were attackers shooting. She scrambled onto the stage with the assistance of her husband.

“At the moment when we climbed onto the stage, three people entered the hall with machine guns,” she wrote in her VK account. “They shot at everything that moved. My husband from the stage saw bluish smoke filling the hall.”

Ms. Farafontova said that being on the center of the stage made her feel exposed and targeted.

“It felt as if they were poking me in the back with the muzzle of a machine gun,” she wrote, adding, “I could feel the breath of death right behind my shoulders.”

She crawled under the curtain and eventually followed the musicians, who had already started to flee, and ran as far as she could from the building.

Up on the balcony, Aleksandr Pyankov and his wife, Anna, heard the gunshots and lay on the floor for some time before joining others who jumped up and began running to the exit.

As they fled, they encountered a woman who had slumped down on an escalator and was blocking their route. She was alive but staring blankly ahead, Mr. Pyankov, a publishing executive, said. He told her to keep running, but then turned his head and saw what she was staring at.

“I started to look,” Mr. Pyankov, 51, said in a telephone interview. “And first I saw a murdered woman sitting on the sofa, and there was a young man lying next to her. I looked around and there were groups of bodies.”

It all happened in a matter of seconds, he said, and he tried to keep fleeing.

“The worst thing is that in this situation you’re not running away from the shooting, but toward it,” he said. “Because it was already clear that there would be a fire there, we know how it would burn. And you’re just running to figure out where else to run.”

Anastasiya Volkova lost both her parents in the attack. She told 5 TV, a state channel, that she had missed a call from her mother on Friday night at around the time of the assault. When she called back, there was no response, Ms. Volkova said.

“I couldn’t answer the phone. I didn’t hear the call,” Ms. Volkova told the broadcaster, adding that her mother had been “really looking forward to this concert.”

Accounts emerging about others who died in the assault also told tales of eager concertgoers who had made special efforts to get to the show.

Irina Okisheva and her husband, Pavel Okishev, traveled hundreds of miles — making their way from Kirov, northeast of Moscow. Mr. Okishev had received the tickets as an early birthday present, the newspaper Komsomolsaya Pravda reported. He did not live to celebrate his 35th birthday, which is this week. Both he and his wife died in the attack.

And Alexander Baklemyshev, 51, had long dreamed about seeing Piknik , a heritage rock band that was playing the first of two sold-out concerts accompanied by a symphony orchestra.

Mr. Baklemyshev’s son told local media that his father had traveled solo from his hometown of Satka, some 1,000 miles east of Moscow, for the concert.

His son, Maksim, told the Russian news outlet MSK1 that his father had sent him a video of the concert hall before the attack. That was the last he had heard from him.

“There was no last conversation,” his son said. “All that was left is the video, and nothing more.”

Mr. Fidrya said he felt grateful to be alive, and that four of the assailants had been captured.

“Now there is confidence that the crime will be solved and those non-humans who organized and carried it out will be punished,” he said. “This really helps a lot.”

But images of the victims remain seared in his memory, in particular that of the husband, his back burned from the fire, standing over his dead wife outside the building as medics attended to the wounded.

The man was talking to Mr. Fidrya’s wife, Olga, saying they were from the city of Tver northwest of Moscow, had been together for 12 years and had three children.

“For us it’s all over, by and large,” Mr. Fidrya wrote in a message after the phone interview. “But for that guy who stood over the body of his wife, and for their three children, the worst is yet to come. And there are so many people like him there.”

Oleg Matsnev contributed reporting.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, a top law enforcement agency, released video of suspects being led, blindfolded, into its headquarters on Sunday. The agency said the investigation at the scene of the attack was continuing.

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Ivan Nechepurenko

As questions about security failures swirl, Russian state media focus on a different narrative.

As Russia mourned the victims of the worst terrorist attack in the Moscow area in more than two decades on Sunday, differing narratives about the attack were spreading and taking hold in the country.

The attack late Friday on a concert hall near Moscow left at least 137 people dead and represented a significant security failure for the Kremlin. While the Russian authorities said they had arrested the four attackers, speculation over their identities and motivations was widespread. There also were open questions about whether Russia had adequately followed up on a warning from the United States about the threat of such an attack, and about how specific that warning was.

But most Russian commentators and state media devoted little time to those issues, instead pointing fingers elsewhere. The reaction reflected in part the state of anxiety that Russia has been living in since the start of the war in Ukraine, with propaganda outlets competing to advance one narrative, conspiracy theory or bit of speculation after another.

Many nationalist commentators and ultraconservative hawks on Sunday continued to push the idea that Ukraine was the obvious culprit, despite a claim of responsibility and mounting evidence that a branch of the Islamic State was responsible.

Hard-line anti-Kremlin activists speaking from abroad, meanwhile, speculated that the Russian state could have orchestrated the attack so that it could blame Ukraine or further tighten the screws inside the country.

Some lawmakers in Parliament argued that the government needed to get tough on migrants, after the authorities said that the four assailants were foreign citizens. Lawmakers also pledged to discuss whether capital punishment should be introduced in Russia.

“Different political forces are starting to use” the attack, said Aleksei Venediktov, a Russian journalist and commentator and the former editor of the influential Ekho Moskvy radio station. “The Kremlin, most of all,” he said in an interview broadcast on YouTube. “But others too, who say that it was all organized by the Kremlin.”

Some nationalist activists said that such a sense of disorientation could have been the attackers’ ultimate goal.

Yegor S. Kholmogorov, a Russian nationalist commentator, wrote in his blog on the Telegram messaging app that Russian society was “strongly united by the war and President Vladimir V. Putin’s victory in the election” before the attack.

But after the tragedy, he lamented on Sunday, Russia had turned into a “society that is split.”

Mr. Putin has done little to clear things up. On Saturday, he vowed to inflict “fair and inevitable” punishment on both the terrorists and the unknown forces behind them. Mr. Putin hinted that Ukraine was tied to the tragedy but stopped short of directly laying blame.

But many of Mr. Putin’s subordinates and public supporters appeared to have made up their minds about who was responsible.

Sergei A. Markov, a pro-Kremlin analyst who often appears on Russian state television, wrote in a post on Telegram that Russia must work at isolating the Ukrainian leadership by “connecting the terrorist act not with ISIS, but with the Ukrainian government as much as possible.”

Russian state news outlets barely mentioned the claim of responsibility made by ISIS. United States officials have said the atrocity was the work of Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, an offshoot of the group that has been active in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

Maria V. Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Sunday that the West was pointing at ISIS in order to shift the blame away from Ukraine.

Russia has not presented any evidence of Ukraine’s involvement in the attack. Ukrainian officials have ridiculed the Russian accusations, and U.S. officials also have said there is no indication Kyiv played any role.

“There is no, whatsoever, any evidence — and, in fact, what we know to be the case is that ISIS-K is actually by all accounts responsible for what happened,” Vice President Kamala Harris said Sunday when asked on ABC’s “This Week” whether the United States had evidence that Ukraine was connected to the concert hall attack.

Some commentators did criticize Russian security services for failing to prevent the tragedy. On Saturday, the state news agency Tass reported , citing a source in the Russian special services, that they had received a warning from the United States but that it was “broad, without any concrete information.”

Maggie Astor

Maggie Astor

Vice President Kamala Harris was asked on ABC’s “This Week” whether the United States had any evidence to back up Vladimir Putin’s hints that Ukraine was connected to the concert hall attack. “No,” she said. “There is no, whatsoever, any evidence — and, in fact, what we know to be the case is that ISIS-K is actually by all accounts responsible for what happened.”

Russia’s Investigative Committee, a top law enforcement agency, said 137 bodies have been recovered from the site of the attack, including those of three children. It said 62 victims had been identified and that genetic testing was being carried out on the remaining bodies to establish identities.

Jason Horowitz

Jason Horowitz

Pope Francis offered prayers today “to the victims of the vile terrorist attack carried out the other night in Moscow,” telling the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome for Palm Sunday Mass that he hoped God would comfort and bring peace to their families and “convert the hearts of those who plan, organize and implement these unhuman acts.’”

He also prayed for all those suffering because of war: “Especially I think of martyred Ukraine, where many people find themselves without electricity because of the intense attacks against infrastructure, which, beyond causing death and suffering, bring about the risk of a human catastrophe of even greater dimensions."

Search and rescue workers are dismantling the remains of the stage at Crocus City Hall so that a giant crane can be brought in to clear debris from the collapse of the roof, the regional governor, Andrei Vorobyov, said on Telegram. Late last night, he said 133 bodies had been recovered from the scene of the attack, of which 50 have been identified. Another 107 injured people were in area hospitals, he said.

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Matthew Mpoke Bigg

As the investigation into the Moscow attack continues, the war in Ukraine carries on. Ukraine's air force said it had shot down 43 out of 57 Russian missiles and drones launched overnight against different parts of the country. And Ukraine’s military said it had struck two large landing ships that were part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. There was no immediate comment from Russia's defense ministry.

Crocus International, the company that owns the concert hall, vowed in a statement to restore everything that was destroyed during the terrorist attack. The cost of restoring the concert hall, one of the biggest and best-equipped in Moscow, will likely exceed $100 million, real estate experts told RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency.

The complex was developed by the Azerbaijan-born billionaire Aras Agalarov, whose son, Emin, is a famous pop star. Former President Donald Trump held the Miss Universe pageant at the same complex in 2013, and world-famous performers like Eric Clapton, Dua Lipa and Sia have also performed there.

Sunday is a national day of mourning in Russia. The state media is airing footage of flags flying at half-staff on government buildings and foreign embassies, and of people bringing flowers, candles and toys to spontaneous memorials across the country.

Alex Marshall

Alex Marshall

Piknik, a longtime Russian rock band, is now at the center of a tragedy.

Early Saturday, Piknik, one of Russia’s most popular heritage rock bands, published a message to its page on Vkontakte , one of the country’s largest social media sites: “We are deeply shocked by this terrible tragedy and mourn with you.”

The night before, the band was scheduled to play the first of two sold-out concerts, accompanied by a symphony orchestra, at Crocus City Hall in suburban Moscow. But before Piknik took the stage, four gunmen entered the vast venue, opened fire and murdered at least 133 people .

The victims appear to have included some of Piknik’s own team. On Saturday evening, another note appeared on the band’s Vkontakte page to say that the woman who ran the band’s merchandise stalls was missing.

“We are not ready to believe the worst,” the message said .

The attack at Crocus City Hall has brought renewed attention to Piknik, a band that has provided the soundtrack to the lives of many Russian rock fans for over four decades.

Ilya Kukulin, a cultural historian at Amherst College in Massachusetts, said in an interview that Piknik was one of the Soviet Union’s “monsters of rock,” with songs inspired by classic Western rock acts including David Bowie and a range of Russian styles.

Since releasing its debut album, 1982’s “Smoke,” Piknik — led by Edmund Shklyarsky, the band’s singer and guitarist — has grown in popularity despite its music being often gloomy with gothic lyrics. Kukulin attributed this partly to the group’s inventive stage shows.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kukulin said, the band began performing with exciting light displays, special effects and other innovative touches. At one point in the 1990s, the band’s concerts included a “living cello” — a woman with an amplified string stretched across her. Shklyarsky would play a solo on the string.

This month, the band debuted a new song online — “ Nothing, Fear Nothing ” — with a video that showed the band performing live before huge screens featuring ever-changing animations.

Unlike some of their peers, Piknik was “never a political band,” Kukulin said, although that did not stop it from becoming entwined in politics. In the 1980s, Soviet authorities banned the group — along with many others — from using recording studios, while Soviet newspapers complained of the group’s lyrics, including a song called “Opium Smoke” that authorities saw as encouraging drug use.

In recent years, some of Russia’s most prominent rock stars have left their country, fed up with President Vladimir V. Putin’s curbs on freedom of expression, including regular crackdowns on concerts. Piknik had benefited from that exodus, Kukulin said, because the band had fewer competitors on Russia’s heritage rock circuit.

Unlike some musicians, Shklyarsky had not acted as a booster for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kukulin said. Still, Ukrainian authorities have long banned Piknik from performing in the country because the group has played concerts in occupied Crimea. In a 2016 interview , Shklyarsky said he was not concerned about the ban.

“Politics comes and goes, but life remains,” he said.

Kukulin said that among Piknik’s songs was “ To the Memory of Innocent Victims ” — a track that could be interpreted as being about those who were politically oppressed under communism. Now, Kukulin said, many fans were hearing the song in a new way, as a tribute to those who lost their lives in Friday’s attack.

Anton Troianovski

Anton Troianovski

news analysis

A deadly attack shatters Putin’s promise of security to the Russian people.

Less than a week ago, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia claimed a fifth term with his highest-ever share of the vote, using a stage-managed election to show the nation and the world that he was firmly in control.

Just days later came a searing counterpoint: His vaunted security apparatus failed to prevent Russia’s deadliest terrorist attack in 20 years.

The assault on Friday, which killed at least 133 people at a concert hall in suburban Moscow, was a blow to Mr. Putin’s aura as a leader for whom national security is paramount. That is especially true after two years of a war in Ukraine that he describes as key to Russia’s survival — and which he cast as his top priority after the election last Sunday.

“The election demonstrated a seemingly confident victory,” Aleksandr Kynev, a Russian political scientist, said in a phone interview from Moscow. “And suddenly, against the backdrop of a confident victory, there’s this demonstrative humiliation.”

Mr. Putin seemed blindsided by the assault. It took him more than 19 hours to address the nation about the attack, the deadliest in Russia since the 2004 school siege in Beslan, in the country’s south, which claimed 334 lives. When he did, the Russian leader said nothing about the mounting evidence that a branch of the Islamic State committed the attack.

Instead, Mr. Putin hinted that Ukraine was behind the tragedy and said the assailants had acted “just like the Nazis,” who “once carried out massacres in the occupied territories” — evoking his frequent, false description of present-day Ukraine as being run by neo-Nazis.

“Our common duty now — our comrades at the front, all citizens of the country — is to be together in one formation,” Mr. Putin said at the end of a five-minute speech, trying to conflate the fight against terrorism with his invasion of Ukraine.

The question is how much of the Russian public will buy into his argument. They might ask whether Mr. Putin, with the invasion and his conflict with the West, truly has the country’s security interests at heart — or whether he is woefully forsaking them, as many of his opponents say he is.

The fact that Mr. Putin apparently ignored a warning from the United States about a potential terrorist attack is likely to deepen the skepticism. Instead of acting on the warnings and tightening security, he dismissed them as “provocative statements.”

“All this resembles outright blackmail and an intention to intimidate and destabilize our society,” Mr. Putin said on Tuesday in a speech to the F.S.B., Russia’s domestic intelligence agency, referring to the Western warnings. After the attack on Friday, some of his exiled critics have cited his response as evidence of the president’s detachment from Russia’s true security concerns.

Rather than keeping society safe from actual, violent terrorists, those critics say, Mr. Putin has directed his sprawling security services to pursue dissidents, journalists and anyone deemed a threat to the Kremlin’s definition of “traditional values.”

A case in point: Just hours before the attack, state media reported that the Russian authorities had added “the L.G.B.T. movement” to an official list of “terrorists and extremists”; Russia had already outlawed the gay rights movement last year. Terrorism was also among the many charges prosecutors leveled against Aleksei A. Navalny, the imprisoned opposition leader who died last month .

“In a country in which counterterrorism special forces chase after online commenters,” Ruslan Leviev, an exiled Russian military analyst, wrote in a social media post on Saturday, “terrorists will always feel free.”

Even as the Islamic State repeatedly claimed responsibility for the attack and Ukraine denied any involvement, the Kremlin’s messengers pushed into overdrive to try to persuade the Russian public that this was merely a ruse.

Olga Skabeyeva, a state television host, wrote on Telegram that Ukrainian military intelligence had found assailants “who would look like ISIS. But this is no ISIS.” Margarita Simonyan, the editor of the state-run RT television network, wrote that reports of Islamic State responsibility amounted to a “basic sleight of hand” by the American news media.

On a prime-time television talk show on the state-run Channel 1, Russia’s best-known ultraconservative ideologue, Aleksandr Dugin, declared that Ukraine’s leadership and “their puppet masters in the Western intelligence services” had surely organized the attack.

It was an effort to “undermine trust in the president,” Mr. Dugin said, and it showed regular Russians that they had no choice but to unite behind Mr. Putin’s war against Ukraine.

Mr. Dugin’s daughter was killed in a car bombing near Moscow in 2022 that U.S. officials said was indeed authorized by parts of the Ukrainian government , but without American involvement.

U.S. officials have said there is no evidence of Ukrainian involvement in the concert hall attack, and Ukrainian officials ridiculed the Russian accusations. Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, said Mr. Putin’s claim that the attackers had fled toward Ukraine and intended to cross into it, with the help of the Ukrainian authorities, made no sense.

In recent months, Mr. Putin has appeared more confident than at any other point since he launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian forces have retaken the initiative on the front line, while Ukraine is struggling amid flagging Western support and a shortage of troops.

Inside Russia, the election — and its predetermined outcome — underscored Mr. Putin’s dominance over the nation’s politics.

Mr. Kynev, the political scientist, said he believed many Russians were now in “shock,” because “restoring order has always been Vladimir Putin’s calling card.”

Mr. Putin’s early years in power were marked by terrorist attacks, culminating in the Beslan school siege in 2004; he used those violent episodes to justify his rollback of political freedoms. Before Friday, the most recent mass-casualty terrorist attack in the capital region was a suicide bombing at an airport in Moscow in 2011 that killed 37 people.

Still, given the Kremlin’s efficacy in cracking down on dissent and the news media, Mr. Kynev predicted that the political consequences of the concert hall attack would be limited, as long as the violence was not repeated.

“To be honest,” he said, “our society has gotten used to keeping quiet about inconvenient topics.”

Constant Méheut contributed reporting.

Caryn Ganz

There have been other deadly attacks at concerts and music festivals in recent years.

The attack before a sold-out rock concert near Moscow on Friday was the latest in a series of mass killings at concerts and music festivals around the world in recent years.

During the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel last year, Hamas targeted Tribe of Nova’s Supernova Sukkot Gathering , a dance music festival in Re’im, leaving at least 360 dead , according to the Israeli authorities. Gunmen surrounded the music festival at daybreak, killing and kidnapping attendees as others fled in their cars, only to find roads blocked and the event surrounded. “It was like a shooting range,” said Hila Fakliro, who was bartending around sunrise. Around 3,000 people had come to the event, timed to the end of the harvest holiday Sukkot.

In May 2017, a suicide bombing killed 22 people and injured hundreds more at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena in England. The assailant, a British citizen of Libyan descent, detonated explosives packed with nails, bolts and ball bearings moments after the performance ended, sending the crowd — filled with children and adolescent fans of the pop singer, who was then 23 — into a panic. Intelligence officials found that the bomber had previously traveled to Libya to meet with members of an Islamic State unit linked to terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015, which included an assault on a concert venue.

In November 2015, 90 people were killed at the Bataclan , a Paris music venue that holds 1,500, when three men armed with assault rifles and suicide vests stormed a concert by the California rock band Eagles of Death Metal. The musicians fled the stage as gunfire broke out, and attendees tried to hide from the assailants. A standoff with the police lasted more than two hours, with concertgoers held as hostages, ending when the police entered the club. One attacker was killed; two others detonated suicide vests. “Carnage,” one attendee posted on Facebook from inside the club. “Bodies everywhere.”

The deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history took place at a music festival in October 2017, when a gunman fatally shot 60 people and injured hundreds more attending the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas . The assailant had stockpiled 23 firearms in a 32nd-floor suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, opening fire from his window as Jason Aldean was onstage singing “When She Says Baby.” “It was just total chaos,” Melissa Ayala, who attended the festival with four friends, said. “People falling down and laying everywhere. We were trying to take cover and we had no idea where to go.” The F.B.I. concluded that the motive for the killings was unclear, but released files last year suggesting that the gunman, a gambler, was angry over casinos scaling back on perks. He had searched “biggest open air concert venues in USA” and reserved a hotel room overlooking the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago before settling on the Las Vegas event as his target.

The people killed at recent concerts and music festivals were commemorated earlier this year at the Grammy Awards . “Music must always be our safe space,” Harvey Mason Jr., the chief executive of the Recording Academy, which gives out the awards, said during the telecast. “When that’s violated, it strikes at the very core of who we are.”

Christina Goldbaum

Christina Goldbaum

The ISIS branch the U.S. blames for the attack has targeted the Taliban’s links with allies, including Russia.

The ISIS affiliate that American officials say was behind the deadly attack in Moscow is one of the last significant antagonists that the Taliban government faces in Afghanistan, and it has carried out repeated attacks there, including on the Russian Embassy, in recent years.

That branch of ISIS — known as the Islamic State Khorasan or ISIS-K — has portrayed itself as the primary rival to the Taliban, who it says have not implemented true Shariah law since seizing power in 2021. It has sought to undermine the Taliban’s relationships with regional allies and portray the government as unable to provide security in the country, experts say.

In 2022, ISIS-K carried out attacks on the Russian and Pakistani embassies in Kabul and a hotel that was home to many Chinese nationals. More recently, it has also threatened attacks against the Chinese, Indian and Iranian embassies in Afghanistan and has released a flood of anti-Russian propaganda.

It has also struck outside Afghanistan. In January, ISIS-K carried out twin bombings in Iran that killed scores and wounded hundreds of others at a memorial service for Iran’s former top general, Qassim Suleimani, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike four years before.

In recent months, the Taliban’s relationship with Russia, as well as China and Iran, has warmed up. While no country has officially recognized the Taliban government, earlier this month Russia accepted a military attaché from the Taliban in Moscow, while China officially accepted a Taliban ambassador to the country. Both moves were seen as confidence-building measures with Taliban authorities.

ISIS-K has both denounced the Kremlin for its interventions in Syria and condemned the Taliban for engaging with Russian authorities decades after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.

Its propaganda has painted the Taliban as “betraying the history of Afghanistan and betraying their religion by making friends with their former enemies,” said Ricardo Valle, the director of research of the Khorasan Diary, a research platform based in Islamabad.

In the more than two years since they took over in Afghanistan, Taliban security forces have conducted a ruthless campaign to try to eliminate ISIS-K and have successfully prevented the group from seizing territory within Afghanistan. Last year, Taliban security forces killed at least eight ISIS-K leaders, according to American officials, and pushed many other fighters into neighboring Pakistan .

Still, ISIS-K has proved resilient and remained active across Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. Within Afghanistan, it has targeted Taliban security forces in hit-and-run attacks and — as it came under increasing pressure from Taliban counterterrorism operations — staged headline-grabbing attacks across the country. Just a day before the attack at the concert hall in Moscow, the group carried out a suicide bombing in Kandahar — the birthplace of the Taliban movement — sending a powerful message that even Taliban soldiers in the group’s heartland were not safe.

After the attack in Moscow, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, said in a statement on social media that the country “condemns in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attack in Moscow” and “considers it a blatant violation of all human standards.”

“Regional countries must take a coordinated, clear and resolute position against such incidents directed at regional de-stabilization,” he added.

Oleg Matsnev

Oleg Matsnev

Names of the victims are beginning to emerge.

As emergency services combed the scene of the attack on a concert hall in Moscow, details on some of the victims began to emerge from officials and local news media.

Most of those identified so far appeared to be in their 40s, and many had traveled from other parts of the country to attend the concert where Piknik, a Russian rock band formed in the late 1970s, was slated to perform on Friday night.

Alexander Baklemyshev, 51, had long dreamed about seeing the band, his son told local media , and had traveled solo from his home city of Satka, some 1,000 miles east of Moscow, for the concert.

His son, Maksim, told the Russian news outlet MSK1 that his father had sent him a video of the concert hall before the attack. That was the last he heard from his father.

Irina Okisheva and her husband, Pavel Okishev, also traveled hundreds of miles to attend the concert — making their way from Kirov, northeast of Moscow. Mr. Okishev had received the tickets as an early birthday present. He was set to turn 35 next week, the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper reported. Both he and his wife died in the attack, the paper reported.

“Very painful and scary,” Ms. Okisheva’s colleagues wrote on a social media page for a photo studio where she worked. “The whole studio team is horrified by what happened.”

Anastasiya Volkova lost both of her parents in the attack. She told 5 TV that she had missed a call from her mother on Friday night at around the time of the attack. When she called back, there was no response, Ms. Volkova said.

As the death toll climbed to 133 people, the Moscow region’s health care ministry published a preliminary list of victims . It had 41 names; Andrey Rudnitsky was one of them.

A forward in an amateur hockey league, he turned 39 years old last week, according to his page on the league’s website. Mr. Rudnitsky’s teammates told Pro Gorod , a local news website, that he had moved to Moscow last year from Yaroslavl but planned to return home to play there. Mr. Rudnitsky had two children.

Ekaterina Novoselova, 42, was also on the list. Ms. Novoselova won a beauty pageant in 2001 in her home city of Tver, 110 miles northwest of Moscow, one of the pageant organizer’s told the local news outlet TIA . It reported that she had moved to Moscow to work as a lawyer and is survived by her husband and two children.

Some people appeared to have been named by mistake. Yevgeniya Ryumina, 38, told Komsomolskaya Pravda that she had fled the concert hall to safety. But she had lost her ID, Ms. Ryumina said, suggesting that might have led to the confusion.

This is what we know about the attack.

An attack Friday at a popular concert venue near Moscow killed 137 people, the deadliest act of terrorism the Russian capital region has seen in more than a decade.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack; American officials have attributed it to ISIS-K, a branch of the group.

Russian officials and state media have largely ignored ISIS’s claim of responsibility and instead suggested that Ukraine was behind the violence. Ukraine has denied any involvement, and American officials say there is no evidence connecting Kyiv to the attack.

Russian authorities have detained at least 11 people, including four migrant laborers described as Tajik citizens who have been charged with committing a terrorist act, but they have not identified most of the accused assailants or their motives.

Here’s a closer look at the attack.

What happened?

The gunmen entered the Crocus City Hall building, one of the biggest entertainment complexes in the Moscow area, with capacity of more than 6,000, shortly before a sold-out rock concert was scheduled to start. Armed with automatic rifles, they began shooting.

Using explosives and flammable liquids, Russian investigators said, they set the building ablaze, causing chaos as people began to run. The fire quickly engulfed more than a third of the building, spreading smoke and causing parts of the roof to collapse. Russia’s emergency service posted a video and pictures from after the fire showing charred seating and firefighters working to remove debris.

Russian law enforcement said that people had died from gunshot wounds and poisoning from the smoke.

At least three helicopters were dispatched to extinguish the fire or to try to rescue people from the roof. The firefighters were only able to contain the fire early on Saturday; the emergency service said it was mostly extinguished by 5 a.m.

The search for survivors ended on Saturday, as details about the victims began to emerge. Many of the more than 100 people injured in the attack were in critical condition.

Where are the assailants?

Attackers were able to flee the scene. Early on Saturday, the head of Russia’s top security agency, the F.S.B., said that 11 people had been detained in the connection to the attack, including “all four terrorists directly involved.” The four men were arraigned late Sunday and charged with committing a terrorist act, according to state and independent media outlets, and they face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The press service of the Basmanny District Court said that the first two defendants, Dalerjon B. Mirzoyev and Saidakrami M. Rachalbalizoda, had pleaded guilty to the charges.

It did not specify any plea from the other two — Muhammadsobir Z. Fayzov, a 19-year-old barber and the youngest of the men charged, and Shamsidin Fariduni, 25, a married factory worker with an 8-month-old baby — according to Mediazona, an independent news outlet.

The men looked severely battered and injured as they appeared in court, and videos of them being tortured and beaten while under interrogation circulated widely on Russian social media.

There were signs that Russia would try to pin blame on Ukraine, despite the claim of responsibility by the Islamic State. The F.S.B. said in a statement that the attack had been carefully planned and that the terrorists had tried to flee toward Ukraine.

How are Russians responding?

President Vladimir V. Putin, who claimed victory in a presidential election last weekend, did not publicly address the tragedy until Saturday afternoon. In a five-minute address to the nation, he appeared to be laying the groundwork to blame Ukraine for the attack, claiming that “the Ukrainian side” had “prepared a window” for the attackers to cross the border from Russia into Ukraine.

But he did not definitively assign blame, saying that those responsible would be punished, “whoever they may be, whoever may have sent them.”

The attack has punctured the sense of relative safety for Muscovites over the past decade, bringing back memories of attacks that shadowed life in the Russian capital in the 2000s.

Russia observed a national day of mourning on Sunday as questions lingered about the identities and motives of the perpetrators. Flags were lowered to half-staff at buildings across the country.

Neil MacFarquhar contributed reporting.

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