The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on October 2 each year, the birthdate of Mahatma Gandhi, pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India who pioneered resistance to tyranny through civil disobedience or total non-violence. This observance highlights the need to curb the extreme rise in violence and utter disregard for human life that is so pervasive in many communities worldwide and to focus on the importance for humankind to blaze a path towards a better awareness that each human being is significant and valuable.

The world is now at a historic phase of transformation in the economies of nations, trade, commerce, and education, which are impacting of the lives of billions of people. Since the earliest times, the efforts of most nations have been directed toward developments in which all people prosper and there is awareness that each human being is significant and valuable.

For every person who perishes as a result of violence, many more are injured and suffer a range of physical, reproductive, and mental health problems. It places a massive burden on national economies, costing countries billions in health care, law enforcement, and lost productivity.

Violence and hatred have no place in this world. The interests that we share as human beings are far more powerful than forces that are divisive. With the collective and hard work of nations, passing on and awakening in others such values as tolerance, solidarity, and peace can give people the ability to face up to a conflict in a positive manner and transform it to non-violent practices.