The United Nations General Assembly decided by consensus to mark 2021 as the International Year of Peace and Trust, with the aim of mobilising the efforts of the international community to promote peace and trust among nations.
The resolution by the UN’s plenary body was approved in 2019 and emphasises that these efforts must be undertaken through political dialogue, mutual comprehension and cooperation to make it possible to build sustainable peace and promote solidarity and harmony among countries. With this in mind, the United Nations invited the Member States, all organisations of the UN system, other international and regional organisations and civil society, including Non-Governmental Organisations and individuals, to promote the benefits of peace and trust.
In marking the International Year of Peace and Trust, the aim is to reassert the United Nations Charter and its goals and principles, particularly the commitment to resolve disputes peacefully and the resolution to safeguard future generations from the scourge of war. The General Assembly, recognising the vital role played by the UN in the development of friendly relations between countries, also emphasises the importance of multilateralism and diplomacy in reinforcing the three pillars of the United Nations: sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights.
This year, the UN and its partners, celebrate the urgent need to promote and strengthen preventative diplomacy, through multilateralism and political dialogue, recognising that peace and trust involve accepting differences, being able to listen to, recognise, respect and value others, as well as living peacefully and in solidarity. However, peace is not merely the absence of conflict – it also requires a positive and dynamic participative process, where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are resolved in a spirit of comprehension and cooperation. International solidarity is, more than ever, fundamental to ensure the reduction of inequalities, sustainable development and the safeguarding of human rights.
In a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding vaccination process, the United Nations has been working tirelessly so that the recovery that is now starting to take place leaves no one behind. This stamp issue is a contribution to the promotion of these values that are fundamental to ensure a safer and more peaceful world for all, as well as fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals listed on the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
