International Day of Peace Event of the NGO Committee on Peace Vienna

Topic: United Nations – 80 Years for Peace, Perspectives for the Future.

Organised by the Committee for Peace at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, and supported by the Bertha von Suttner Friedensakademie, the traditional peace gathering marking the UN International Day of Peace took place on 19 September 2025 at the Peace Bell at the Memorial Place of the Vienna International Centre (VIC). Local representatives of the Sri Swami Madhavananda World Peace Council attended the event on behalf of the organisation, which is based in Vienna.

In his opening speech, Peter Haider, Chair of the Vienna Peace Committee, emphasised the importance of this event and this meeting in our troubled times, which are shaken by several wars, and called for joint commitment and action to support the UN engagement to create peace in the world.

Messages were given by Ms Rebecca Jovin, Chief of Office, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs at Vienna, along with the Chair of the Bertha von Suttner Friedensakademie, the Ambassador of Pakistan, H.E. Mohammad Kamran Akhtar Malik, and other ambassadors to international organisations in Vienna.

Musical contributions of drums and saxophone enriched the event. The highlight was a powerful yet meditative performance by Maximilian Seiler on the Peace Gong – a universal symbol and memorial of the need for peace, unity and brotherhood among people worldwide.

Following the outdoor peace ceremony, a conference on the topic of ‘The UN – 80 years for peace, perspectives for the future’ was held in the VIC conference room.