The UN General Assembly established the International Day of Peace in 1981 through resolution 36/67, coinciding with the opening of its annual session. In 2001, the Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 55/282, fixing September 21 as the permanent date each year and designating it a day of global ceasefire and nonviolence. The day aims to strengthen the ideals of peace within and among nations by calling on all warring parties to observe a ceasefire for the full day, creating space to deliver humanitarian aid to hard-to-reach areas affected by conflict. The day is marked worldwide with the ringing of the Peace Bell at UN Headquarters in New York, along with events, marches, and educational initiatives in schools and communities, and awareness campaigns encouraging people to promote tolerance and dialogue over violence.