UN chief Ban Ki-moon together with UN senior officials, and may children were at the UN headquarters to take part in the ceremony to commemorate the International Peace Day, which is held every year on September 21 and seeks cessation of hostilities around the world for a day.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his wife at peace bell ceremony on the occasion International Day of Peace at United Nations in New York – PTI

The ceremony was held at the Rose Garden early morning on Friday (US time). A moment of silence was observed in honor of the victims of conflict and those who are being subjected to human rights abuses. Ban along with UN General Assembly President Vuk Jeremic rang the 'Peace Bell' to mark the occasion. Ban said the International Peace Day is the day when the UN calls for compete cessation of hostilities around the world. He said the peace bell should be rung with greater force this year so that the message of peace is 'heard above the voice of discord and extremism that has sparked violence in recent days'. The theme of this year’s observance is 'Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future'. Ban stressed that armed conflicts attack the very pillars of sustainable development. He said that natural resources must be used for the benefit of society, not to finance wars. Children should be in school, not recruited into armies. National budgets should focus on building human capacity, not deadly weapons. The International Peace Day, also known as World Peace Day, is dedicated to peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The day was first celebrated in 1982.