International Day of Non-Violence 2026; October 2nd.

EVENT: Commemorative event to mark the International Day of Non-Violence on the theme 'Non Violence as a means to Peace and Development', and the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, October 2nd. Stay tuned to Watch the commemoration of International Day of Non-Violence (High-level Event Duration:00:53:57)

International Day of Non-Violence 2025; October 2nd.

FORUM: "156th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi." International Day of Non-Violence 2025.  Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #2october, #NonViolenceDay, #Ghandhi.

Statement of the United Nations Secretary General on International Day of Non-Violence 2025; October 2nd.

On this International Day of Non-Violence, we honour the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, and his unwavering commitment to peace, truth and dignity for all.

Gandhi not only spoke of these ideals – he lived them. And in this time of rising tensions and deepening divisions, his message carries renewed urgency.

We are witnessing a troubling erosion of our shared humanity. Violence is displacing dialogue. Civilians are bearing the brunt of conflict. International law is being flouted. Human rights are being trampled. And the foundations of peace are under strain.

Gandhi understood that non-violence is not a weapon of the weak, it is the strength of the courageous. It is the power to resist injustice without hatred; confront oppression without cruelty; and build peace through dignity, not domination.

In these dangerous and divided times, let us find the strength to follow his lead, end the suffering, advance diplomacy, heal divisions, and create a just, sustainable and peaceful world for all.

António Guterres.

EVENT: The date of 2 October was marked as the International Day of Non-Violence by General Assembly Resolution ARES/61/271 of 15 June 2007. Cosponsored by 140 countries the resolution established the commemoration of the International Day as an occasion to "disseminate the message of non- violence, including through education and public awareness". A high-level event will mark the observance. Register to participate!

Watch the commemoration of International Day of Non-Violence!

International Day of Non-Violence 2022; October 2nd.

FORUM: "Celebrate non-violence and the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi." Internationa Day of Non-Violence 2022.

ACTIONS FOR NON-VIOLENCE

There are three main categories of non-violence action:

1. protest and persuasion, including marches and vigils;
2. non-cooperation; and
3. non-violent intervention, such as blockades and occupations.

EVENTS:  Internationa Day of Non-Violence 2022 at UNHQ.

On the occasion of the Internationa Day of Non-Violence 2022, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations will host a special event on 2 October at UN Headquarters, where the President of the 77th session of the General Assembly, and the United Nations Secretary-General, will join UN delegations, staff and guests to celebrate non-violence and the 153th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.

To commemorate the 153rd Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Consulate General of India in Istanbul in collaboration with Indian Council for Cultural Relations are organising the virtual narration of 'Mahatma Gandhi's Global Leadership for Peace, Non-Violence & Satyagraha' by Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna on Sunday, 02 October 2022 at 11.00 AM (Turkey Standard Time).

As part of India@75 Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, Embassy of India in Ljubljana presents another event from the series of online talks on special days/events related to Mahatma Gandhi and other prominent leaders conducted by Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna from Gandhian Forum in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The talk titled ‘Mahatma Gandhi’s Global Leadership for Peace, Non-Violence, and Satyagraha' will be premiered on the India in Slovenia Youtube page on Sunday, 02 October 2022 at 1900 hrs, to commemorate the 153rd Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

International Day of Non-Violence 2 October

United Nations Secretary-General's Message for 2011

We mark this year’s International Day of Non-Violence in a world dramatically altered since our last commemoration. The powerful engine behind that wave of change – beginning in Tunisia and then spreading across North Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere – was none other than a non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.
The individuals – many of them youth – at the helm and heart of these movements toppled long-entrenched governments, delivered a rebuke to those who embrace violence, and emboldened other oppressed peoples to think that the path of non-violence might work for them, too.
There is a heavy risk for those who stare down the barrel of a gun armed only with the knowledge that they have right on their side. But courageous individuals who believe in and use non-violence leave oppressors facing what is for them an unpalatable option – crack down harder or negotiate. The former simply reveals the bankruptcy of the systems they are defending; the latter could well set change in motion. This is why non-violence so often confounds those who face it; this is why non-violence is so powerful.
The United Nations Charter clearly champions a peaceful, non-violent approach as the first recourse – utilizing means such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration and judicial settlement.
When the Security Council has sanctioned the use of coercive measures, as was done earlier this year in Libya and Côte d’Ivoire, it was to protect civilians – and then only as a last resort, in the face of violence.
Our non-violent work to build peaceful, stable societies takes many forms – from promoting values and norms to establishing institutions. The rule of law, sustainable development, building and making peace – these are the elements of the UN agenda for non-violent change. We are striving to intervene early, before tensions escalate, and speedily when they do. We are strengthening our strategic partnerships so we can respond more quickly to crises while supporting national institutions for mediation and dialogue.
This International Day coincides with the anniversary of the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of India’s historic and non-violent movement for independence. His transformative and transcendent approach had deep roots in India’s past. Some two thousand years earlier, Emperor Ashoka renounced recourse to war and devoted himself to the peaceful development of his society. His idea of peace and non-violence extended to the protection of animals and trees – sustainability before its time.
Others around the world have carried this banner, from Chico Mendes in Brazil to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the United States, from Nelson Mandela in South Africa to Professor Wangari Maathai in Kenya. All of these leaders inspired global movements in which they were joined by countless others who embraced non-violence as a core value and animating principle.
The timeless power of non-violence, which has accomplished so much in the past year alone, has a vital role to play in all countries, including established democracies. On this International Day, let us re-commit to supporting non-violence. Non-violence is not only an effective tactic; it is a strategy and the ultimate vision. Durable ends such as peace can only come through durable means – non-violence.

Ban Ki-moon