Every September 21, the United Nations observes the International Day of Peace, which seeks to strengthen the ideals of peace between nations and people.

For 2018, the international organization will concurrently observe the day alongside the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN encourages the public to participate by recording the reading of at least one of the declaration’s 30 articles, preferably in their native tongue. The end goal is to have a collection of various readings in a myriad of languages.

The observance coincides with National Peace Consciousness Month, which is observed in the Philippines throughout September and serves to remind the public of the constant need for a comprehensive peace process.

National Peace Consciousness Month was introduced through Presidential Proclamation 675, signed in 2004 by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“There is a need to instill greater consciousness and understanding among the Filipino people on the comprehensive peace process,” the proclamation read./WDJ