Every year since 2007, on 2 October, the United Nations observes the International Day of Nonviolence. The date was chosen because Mahatma Gandhi, one of the first and main symbols of non-violent protest and change, was born on this day. Nonviolence, a vital component of Gandhi’s teachings and the foundation for the Indian Liberation Movement, rejects the use of physical and armed violence in movements trying to achieve social and political change. Since Gandhi’s time, nonviolence has been closely intertwined with many movements for social justice, to the extent that it is now often described as “the politics of ordinary people”.
Today there are many organisations which include this concept among their founding principles. Among others, the UN itself and the League of Nations before it were founded as means of preventing war through dialogue, mediation and arbitration. In the Preamble of the UN Charter, the founding members stated that they were determined to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. In 2007, through the establishment of this important day, the UN strongly reaffirmed this principle, asking all members to commemorate Gandhi’s philosophy in “an appropriate manner and disseminate the message of nonviolence, including through education and public awareness.”
Unfortunately, today the objective of saving future generations from the scourge of war still appears to be far from achieved. Over the past year, several existing conflicts embittered and new ones, the potential implications of which are yet to be seen, just saw their start. Looking at this worrisome situation, it becomes even more crucial to stress the importance of nonviolence not only as an end in itself, but as a means of resolving conflicts.
UNPO, as an organization, has from its very inception adopted the idea of nonviolence among its basic principles, and has adhered to the philosophy of nonviolence as an active and potent force for attaining certain goals. The Crimean Tatars, one of UNPO’s founding Members, have over the past six months shown an inspiring example: despite crackdowns and uncertainty about their future following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March, they have not given up their nonviolent struggle for the restoration of their rights.
On this day, UNPO wishes to commemorate the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, born 145 years ago, and to remember all the deceased and living nonviolent activists of the world. Their actions, their endurance, and in some cases, their sacrifices serve as an example of how much we can actually achieve through nonviolent activism. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man”.
This article has been taken from the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation website, here.
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is an international, nonviolent, and democratic membership organisation. Its members are indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognised or occupied territories who have joined together to protect and promote their human and cultural rights, to preserve their environments, and to find nonviolent solutions to conflicts which affect them.
