The Relevance of the United Nations for a Peaceful World Order

International Day of Peace commemorated at the Vienna International Centre

On Monday, 21 September 2026, representatives of Yoga in Daily Life and the Sri Swami Madhavananda World Peace Council attended a special event at the Vienna International Centre commemorating the International Day of Peace.

Organised by the NGO Committee on Peace – Vienna with the support of the Bertha von Suttner Peace Academy, the event brought together representatives of civil society, international organisations, academia and the peace movement. Under the central theme “The Relevance of the United Nations for a Peaceful World Order,”  participants reflected on the continuing importance of dialogue, multilateral cooperation and non-violence in addressing the conflicts and divisions of our time.

Ceremony at the Peace Bell

The first part of the programme took place at the Peace Bell on Memorial Plaza at the Vienna International Centre. Participants were welcomed by Peter Haider, Chair of the NGO Committee on Peace – Vienna.

The ceremony included an Aztec Dance for Peace, expressing the universal human aspiration for harmony through movement and tradition. Dr Afsar Rathor, former United Nations diplomat and President of LIOS-SOIL, delivered a message dedicated to peace and shared responsibility.

Josef Newerkla presented a reading from Lay Down Your Arms!, the influential anti-war work by Austrian peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Bertha von Suttner. Her call for disarmament, dialogue and the rejection of war remains profoundly relevant in a period marked by armed conflicts, growing mistrust and renewed geopolitical confrontation.

The ceremony concluded with the ringing of the Peace Bell. Its sound served as a symbolic appeal to people and nations to overcome division, reject violence and renew their commitment to peaceful coexistence.

The role of the United Nations in maintaining peace

The second part of the event continued with a panel discussion at the Vienna International Centre. The discussion was opened with a musical welcome by the Bezirkslehrerchor Horn.

The panel brought together distinguished experts with extensive experience in international relations, security policy, humanitarian law, disarmament and human rights:

• Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Visiting Lecturer in International Relations, member of the Advisory Board of the Siracusa Institute and former Director of Policy Analysis and Public Information at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime;
• Dr Walter Feichtinger, security policy expert, President of the Centre for Strategic Analysis and former Head of the Institute for Peacekeeping and Conflict Management at the Austrian National Defence Academy;
• Mag. Marit Seyer, expert in international humanitarian law, disarmament and technology ethics;
• Dr Ján Figeľ, former European Commissioner, former Slovak Minister of Transport and former European Commission Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union.

The discussion highlighted the indispensable role of the United Nations as a forum where countries can meet, communicate and search for peaceful solutions even when their political interests and positions differ significantly. Although the international system faces serious challenges, the need for effective multilateral institutions has not diminished. On the contrary, global insecurity, armed conflicts, climate change, inequality and technological transformation make cooperation across national borders more important than ever.

A peaceful world order cannot be secured by political declarations alone. It requires respect for international law, functioning institutions and a genuine willingness to listen to others. Above all, it depends on a culture of peace rooted in human dignity, tolerance, compassion and mutual understanding.

Peace begins within every human being

The participation of Yoga in Daily Life and the Sri Swami Madhavananda World Peace Council reflected their longstanding commitment to peace, non-violence, interreligious dialogue and cooperation among people, cultures and nations.

Peace is not only the absence of war. It begins within every individual and is expressed through our thoughts, words and actions. Lasting peace in society can be built only when human beings cultivate inner peace, respect for life and a sense of responsibility for one another and for the world we share.

Yoga in Daily Life and the Sri Swami Madhavananda World Peace Council support all sincere efforts that bring people and nations together in a spirit of peace, non-violence and mutual understanding. Guided by the timeless teachings of the Guru Parampara, His Holiness Satgurudev Sri Swami Madhavanandaji and Vishwaguruji, we continue this mission under the leadership of Vishwaguruji’s officially designated successor, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avatar Puri.

The commemoration at the Vienna International Centre was a reminder that peace is not merely an ideal to be celebrated once a year. It is a responsibility that must guide our decisions and actions every day—within ourselves, in our communities and in relations among nations.

There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.