Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981, the The International Day of Peace was fixed as 21 September in 2001 and designated as a period of non-violence and ceasefire.
This year's observance is being held under the theme “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day”, with the United Nations highlighting the contribution of people working in communities to bridge divisions, promote dialogue and strengthen social cohesion.
The theme comes days after the North West Women Mediators Summit 2026 in Bamenda, where women mediators, traditional authorities, government representatives, civil society organisations and development partners examined ways of strengthening women's participation in mediation and peacebuilding.
According to Mother of Hope Cameroon, MOHCAM, the International Day of Peace provides an opportunity to recognise the often unseen work carried out by peacebuilders in communities.
“Today, we celebrate and honour the countless peacebuilders who have dedicated their lives to creating safer, more just, inclusive, and peaceful communities,” MOHCAM Executive Director Adah Atoh Muyang said in a social media post.
She extended the recognition to women, men, young people, mediators, community leaders, educators, advocates and other actors who choose dialogue over division and work to resolve conflicts before they escalate.
“Your work may not always make headlines, but every conversation you facilitate, every conflict you help transform, every voice you amplify, and every life you touch contributes to a more peaceful world,” she said.
Adah Atoh Muyang said peacebuilding should be understood as a continuous process requiring sustained investment in people and communities.
“Peace is not built in a single day; it is nurtured through courage, patience, solidarity, healing, justice, and collective action every day,” she said.
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MOHCAM Executive Director Adah Atoh Muyang
The MOHCAM Executive Director also called for continued investment in women and young people, stronger community structures and spaces where people can participate in peacebuilding with dignity and hope.
Her message comes as the newly launched North West Regional Women Mediators Network begins its work to bring women peacebuilders under a common platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and greater participation in peace processes.
The United Nations has similarly stressed that peace is not built only through formal negotiations. Its 2026 message recognises volunteers, civil society leaders, peacekeepers and community-based peacebuilders as “everyday architects of peace” working from the grassroots.
According to Adah Atoh, the message on Peace Day is therefore also a call to action:
“Let us continue to Invest in Peace for Everyone, Every Day.” she concluded
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