In Brief
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged nations to invoke Mahatma Gandhi's principles of peace and empathy in "highly charged times."
- Guterres emphasized that non-violence is the most effective tool to counter systemic injustice, oppression, and discrimination.
- The UN Chief warned that core foundations of international stability—including the UN Charter, international law, and diplomacy—are being flouted with impunity.
- October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, has been officially observed by the UN as the International Day of Non-Violence since 2007.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a solemn message on Friday, October 2, 2026, marking the International Day of Non-Violence by appealing to global leaders to summon the courage, empathy, and moral clarity of Mahatma Gandhi during an era marked by deepening global divisions and active conflict.
In his official statement, Guterres noted that Mahatma Gandhi demonstrated that the most durable counter to systemic oppression and cruelty lies not in mirroring violence, but in deploying dialogue, diplomacy, and moral conviction to build understanding. The UN chief cautioned that global progress is facing severe headwinds as poverty and economic disparities widen the gulf between nations, while fundamental pillars of international order—including human rights, international law, and the UN Charter—are being increasingly disregarded.
Guterres stressed that Gandhi’s teachings carry renewed urgency in contemporary multilateral diplomacy. He called on member states to prioritize genuine negotiation over military escalation to end human suffering and foster lasting global stability. Established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 2007, the International Day of Non-Violence is observed annually on October 2 to honor Gandhi's role in advancing peace through civil resistance and non-violent political change.
