Monday 21 September is the annual International Day of Peace, a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. This year, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon provided a strong and simple declaration: "We must disarm." The current absence of peace in several parts of the world is facilitated by the circulation, proliferation and misuse of small arms and lights weapons. More than 375,000 people are killed each year by small arms. IANSA agrees with the S-G: We must disarm.

IANSA members around the world marked International Day of Peace with public events, media outreach and advocacy meetings.

Africa: the Togolese Action Network on Small Arms held a roundtable on the Arms Trade Treaty. In Malawi, PEFENAP organised a community awareness raising event. IANSA members in the Central African Republic launched their national network, RACAL. The Peaceful Action Network of Veterans for Development in Burundi organised a campaign on armed violence. PeaceNet Kenya participated in the national celebrations which include a march and community peace meetings. In DR Congo, ASVOCO launched a campaign in Nord-Kivu. Civil society organisations from 14 southern African countries participated in a workshop on stockpile managment in Pretoria (South Africa) on 21-22 September. In Nigeria, Panafstrag held a lecture on 24 September on the constitution as a mechanism for peace. In Mali, RJSDAO (the Journalists Network for Peace) held a conference about the ATT on 25 September.

Americas: in Canada, Project Ploughshares Calgary organised a peace walk and a large event to inaugurate the Peace Pole. In Jamaiaca, the Foreign Minister stressed the importanceof addressing small arms problems. In El Salvador, CEMUJER walked through the main streets of San Salvador carrying posters with peace messages. In Colombia, the Mothers for Life Movement organised a workshop for demobilised combatants. The Costa Rican Ministry of Justice, RASUR Foundation and the Global Alliance for Ministries of Peace hosted an international summit in San Jose. In Argentina, No Mas Violencia and CRIES organised two concerts in Buenos Aires.

Asia: the photo exhibition, “Farewell to Arms: documenting the human cost of arms proliferation” was inaugurated by the Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI) in New Delhi. The Iraqi Organisation for Rehabilitating Society and Environment gave information about the Day of Peace to media, government and NGOs. Women and Modern World Centre in Azerbaijan hosted a conference on 23 September.

Europe: In Spain, Fundacio per la Pau launched its international Peace Animation Film Contest. In Switzerland, the Geneva Interfaith Intercultural Alliance held a seminar on 22 September. David Atwood from the Quakers UN Office represented civil society during the official commemorations at the UN in Geneva. The Born International Centre for Conversion (BICC) and Fatal Transactions collaborated with the Zimbabwe Europe Network and Green Advocates on advocacy meetings in Brussels, Geneva and Berlin from 21 to 23 September.