Peace One Day and Interpeace team up to launch the Global Truce 2012 NGO Coalition on Tuesday 12 June 2012 in support of Peace Day.

At least 1.5 billion people live in conflict affected and fragile states and are currently in urgent need of peace¹. Peace One Day led the initiative to establish the first ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence. It was unanimously adopted by the United Nations member states making 21 of September known as ‘Peace Day’. Now each year, Peace Day is celebrated around the world.

This year Peace One Day is working to make history and create a world record for peace by creating the largest ever global reduction of violence on one single day – Peace Day. The campaign is called Global Truce 2012.

Interpeace, one of the world’s largest peacebuilding organisations, has pledged its support. Peace One Day and Interpeace have partnered to bring together a coalition of non-governmental organisations from all over the world to support this initiative.

Internationally renowned organisations including ACCORD, BRAC, MAG (Mines Advisory Group), Mercy Corps, Viva Rio and War Child will join Peace One Day and Interpeace to launch the ‘NGO Coalition’ this coming Tuesday. The coalition in support of Peace One Day is committed to marking Peace Day 2012 through their work.

Martin Bell, former BBC War Correspondent and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, will be the special guest at the launch event on the 12 June 2012.

The event will be held at the unique and historic location in Central London, the Central Hall Westminster, which was the chosen venue for the very first meeting of the United Nations in 1946.

Jeremy Gilley, Founder of Peace One Day, says: “We are partnering with different dynamic sectors of society to mobilise the largest gathering of people in the name of peace on one single day, Friday 21 September 2012. We are calling this initiative Global Truce 2012. We are confident this will be a world record and will inspire people around the world to get involved. Peace One Day cannot do this alone.”

Scott M. Weber, Interpeace Director-General shares: “In order to have peace every day, we need to show peace is possible on one day. That is why we are so proud to be supporting Jeremy and his team. Our peacebuilders in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe and the Middle East will be marking Peace Day and Global Truce 2012 this September.”

He explains further: “We at Interpeace will be mobilizing our peacebuilders on the ground to support Jeremy Gilley and Peace One Day. We are going to be expanding the coalition to bring in more NGOs that can help us all create the largest footprint possible through their work, their programmes and their networks.”

The NGO coalition is the third Global Truce 2012 coalition to be launched by Peace One Day. Baroness Scotland (EDV Global Foundation) leads the Coalition on Domestic Violence and the National Union of Students in the UK, along with student leaders from around the world, are championing the Student Coalition. A Peace One Day concert opening the London 2012 Festival on 21 June 2012 in Derry-Londonderry will mark the three-month countdown to Peace Day 2012. A second concert, effectively the final show of the Festival, will take place at Wembley Arena on Peace Day, 21 September 2012.