Overview

• The UN secretary‑general urged immediate action to end active conflicts, protect civilians and heal divisions.
• He warned of an explosion of conflicts, flouting of international law and record displacement of people worldwide.
• He tied lasting peace to development, noting that nine of the ten countries struggling most with development are in conflict.
• He pressed governments, communities and individuals to counter racism, dehumanisation and misinformation with respect and dialogue.
• The 2025 theme, Act Now for a Peaceful World, underscores a UN observance established in 1981 and designated in 2001 as a period of non‑violence and ceasefire.