Youth Charter Sport for Development and Peace Call to Action on International Day of Peace…

Each year on 21 September, the world pauses to mark the ‘United Nations International Day of Peace’. It is a day that calls on all nations and peoples to commit to non-violence, reconciliation, and unity. The 2025 theme, “Act Now for a Peaceful World” is a timely and urgent reminder that peace cannot wait, and that words must translate into action.

In 2025, conflicts rage across continents, divisions fracture societies, and young people face the harsh realities of war, displacement, and inequality. Against this backdrop, the global Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) movement has never been more vital.

The Youth Charter believes that sport, art, culture, and digital technology can serve as a vaccine and antidote to the violence and division that threatens our world. Just as vaccines protect the body from disease, the unifying spirit of sport has the power to protect communities from the contagion of hatred, despair, and conflict. Sport can create safe spaces, build bridges where walls are rising, and provide opportunities where hope has been lost. To truly “act now for a peaceful world,” sport must be embraced as a frontline force for peace.

A Call for Unity in the Sport for Development Movement

On this International Day of Peace, the Youth Charter issues a renewed Call to Action:

• For the global SDP movement to stand together, pooling its experience, evidence, and influence to respond to the conflicts of the present age.

• For governments, institutions, and civil society to recognise that sport is not a luxury, but a necessity in building peace, resilience, and social cohesion.

• For young people to be empowered through Community Campus Models that provide education, training, and employment, ensuring pathways from potential to opportunity.

  
  

Inspiration from the World Stage

The recent World Athletics Championships have once again demonstrated the diversity, inclusivity, and unity of sport. Athletes from every background and nation came together to compete with mutual respect, discipline, and fairness. Their achievements reflect the aspirations of young people everywhere - to be seen, valued, and given the chance to succeed.

This global celebration of human performance and spirit is more than medals and records; it is a mirror to the values of peace. It shows that difference need not divide, it can be the very foundation of strength and innovation.

The Role of the Youth Charter

For over three decades, the Youth Charter has advanced its mission of using sport as a force for good. Our Community Campus Model demonstrates how sport, linked with art, culture, and digital engagement, can create environments that address inequality, inspire ambition, and rebuild fractured communities.

Today, we renew our commitment to:

• Engage young people as ambassadors of peace in their communities.

• Empower local, national, and international stakeholders to align their efforts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

• Provide practical pathways that give young people hope, opportunity, and purpose.

Conclusion

As humanity faces complex crises from violent conflict to climate insecurity, sport must be recognised as a universal language of peace. On this International Day of Peace, under the banner of “Act Now for a Peaceful World,” the Youth Charter calls upon the Sport for Development and Peace movement, policymakers, and communities worldwide to embrace sport as a vaccine and antidote to division and despair.

Peace is not passive. It requires action, investment, and courage. Let us ensure that the playing fields, tracks, courts, and community spaces of the world become arenas of unity, where the youth of today can shape a peaceful tomorrow.