On the International Day of Peace on September 21, the United Nations calls for a complete cessation of hostilities around the world. It also asks people everywhere to observe a minute of silence, at noon local time, to honor the victims – those who have lost their lives, and those who survived but must now cope with trauma and pain, the Organization said in a press release. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon notes that armed conflicts attack the very pillars of sustainable development, adding that natural resources must be used for the benefit of society, not to finance wars. Children should be in school, not recruited into armies, and national budgets should focus on building human capacity, not deadly weapons. “On the International Day of Peace, I call on combatants around the world to find peaceful solutions to their conflicts. Let us all work together for a safe, just and prosperous future for all”, said the UN Secretary General.