On 21 September 2024, United Nations Peacekeeping will commemorate the International Day of Peace with a series of live art installations, hosted at the UN Headquarters in New York and in peacekeeping missions around the world. These events will engage diverse communities in creative expression to highlight the importance of peacebuilding as global leaders gather for the seventy-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The 2024 Peace Day campaign, titled “Our Common Future is Peace,” taps into the power of street art to amplify voices from across the globe, promoting unity and collective action for peace. The campaign offers a platform for individuals to express their visions for a peaceful future, connecting with the themes of the upcoming Summit of the Future, which focuses on shaping a new global framework for peace.
"For over 76 years, UN peacekeeping has made a tangible difference in the lives of millions of people caught in conflict. As world leaders gather at the Summit to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future, it’s important that the communities we serve remain at the centre of all our efforts," said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations.
In New York, renowned American street artist Thomas Evans, better known as Detour, will lead Peace Day’s main artistic activation. Detour will create a large-scale mural on the theme “Building a Peaceful Future Together.” Spectators will have the chance to watch the mural unfold and contribute their own messages of peace on a second, collaborative canvas.
The event is being held in partnership with the New York-based non-profit Street Art for Mankind, whose co-founders, Audrey and Thibault Decker, emphasize the universal impact of art. “Art is a universal language. It speaks to the heart and moves humankind in a way nobody can explain, but everybody can experience. Art is essential to the creation of a peaceful world,” said the Deckers.
Simultaneously, peacekeeping missions in Kosovo (UNMIK), Cyprus (UNFICYP), the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) will host street art events that bring together local communities, artists, and UN peacekeepers to co-create murals. The installations will address region-specific issues such as youth engagement, combating misinformation, and addressing gender-based violence, and will emphasize the critical role peacekeepers play in promoting peace and security in conflict-affected areas.
The artworks created during these activations will be displayed at UN Headquarters, giving visitors an opportunity to engage with the campaign’s powerful messages. They will serve as an important reminder of the shared responsibility we all bear in shaping a peaceful future.