un chief urges global leaders to back peacebuilding with concrete investments
UN Secretary‑General António Guterres called on world leaders and citizens to increase funding for peace on Monday, the International Day of Peace. “Achieving peace is not something that just happens,” he said,…
Source: United Nations News · September 21, 2026 at 6:32 PM · AI-assisted report
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NEW YORK, 22 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
UN Secretary‑General António Guterres called on world leaders and citizens to increase funding for peace on Monday, the International Day of Peace. “Achieving peace is not something that just happens,” he said, describing peace as “a shared and decisive choice to invest in a better future.”
Guterres made the appeal during the United Nations’ High‑Level Week in New York, urging delegates to bolster diplomacy, dialogue, mediation and peacekeeping operations as core tools for preventing and resolving conflicts. He noted that peace remains “a vital resource for human development” but is increasingly elusive as conflicts grow in scale and complexity.
At a parallel event in Nairobi, Kenya, the UN highlighted youth perspectives through its “Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World” campaign. Benedict Wambuya, an agriculture and technology student at Jomo Kenyatta University, warned that young people are rarely included in peace discussions and called for greater involvement.
Fellow student Benedict Kioko stressed that “mutual understanding” and dialogue are essential for lasting peace, while Festus Musau of the Technical University of Kenya said peace must begin with every individual.
The Secretary‑General warned that international solidarity is weakening, making solutions harder to find. He linked lasting peace to inclusive societies, sustainable development and respect for human rights, adding that volunteers, civil‑society leaders, peacekeepers and peacemakers are already bridging divides at the grassroots level.
The UN’s mandate, endorsed by its 193 Member States, covers conflict prevention, resolution and recovery. Since 1948, the Security Council has launched more than 70 peacekeeping missions; 11 remain active today, according to UN data.
In the weeks surrounding the International Day of Peace, the UN will run several outreach initiatives. The “Peace Circle” event will feed youth contributions into an independent progress study on young people’s role in peacebuilding. From 14 to 26 September, the ActNow campaign will use the mobile app partner Through A World to connect audiences with information and action opportunities, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
Guterres concluded that deliberate, well‑funded decisions are required to turn peace from an ideal into a reality. For investors and policymakers, the message underscores the growing demand for financing mechanisms that support diplomatic engagement, mediation frameworks and sustainable peace operations worldwide.
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Malaysia Impact
Regional tensions (e.g., South China Sea disputes) and domestic political/ethnic unrest in Malaysia may indirectly amplify calls for proactive peacebuilding, but no direct, immediate economic or market impact (e.g., KLCI, MYR, oil prices) is evident.
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