114 HCON 158 IH: Recognizing the International Day of Peace. U.S. House of Representatives 2016-09-21 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV114th CONGRESS2d SessionH. CON. RES. 158IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 21, 2016Mr. Lewis (for himself and Mr. McGovern) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government ReformCONCURRENT RESOLUTIONRecognizing the International Day of Peace.

Whereas, on November 30, 1981, during the 77th plenary meeting, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to declare the third Tuesday of September as the International Day of Peace; Whereas nearly 20 years later, the United Nations General Assembly adopted A/RES/55/282, which officially designated September 21 as a global day to recognize and celebrate international cease-fire and nonviolence; Whereas, on September 21, all United Nations Member States, organizations, regional and nongovernmental organizations, and individuals are encouraged to celebrate and recognize global peace efforts; Whereas the United States Institute of Peace coordinates an annual Peace Day Challenge, an international effort to reaffirm peace as an authentic alternative to violence and war; Whereas in 2015, more than 129 countries were active in the Peace Day Challenge; Whereas in 2015, the USIP Global Peacebuilding Center developed an inaugural USIPEACE Teachers program which selected educators to incorporate peacebuilding into curricula and activities with students across the country; Whereas peace education programs help break the cycle of violence and conflict by developing active communities committed to peace scholarship and instruction; Whereas the 2016 Global Peace Index found that peacefulness improved in 81 countries, but declined in 79 countries of those studied; Whereas the 2016 Global Peace Index also noted that for the past 10 years there has been a decrease in the world’s peacefulness and that global violence cost $13.6 trillion in 2015; Whereas these reports and actions underscore the importance of strengthening and supporting domestic and global efforts to study, discuss, teach, and develop techniques and methods to encourage and augment global peace efforts; and Whereas the theme for the 2016 International Day of Peace is Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1)recognizes the importance of celebrating the 35th anniversary of the International Day of Peace; and (2)urges all citizens of the United States to reflect upon the importance of peace, tolerance, cease-fire, and nonviolence.