By: Arnold Vardanyan, RWI Visiting Researcher*
Today, 2 October, marks the International Day of Non-Violence, celebrated on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader who employed nonviolent resistance to guide the successful campaign for India’s independence. The day was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/61/271, adopted on 27 June 2007, to “disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness.” In light of the growing levels of violence across the world, this day serves as an important reminder of our collective responsibility to choose peace over violence.
On this occasion, it is also worth recalling the work of Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, who designed the iconic Knotted Gun sculpture, depicting a revolver with its barrel tied in a knot as a symbol of peace. More than 30 copies of this symbol are displayed worldwide, including in Stockholm, Malmo, Lund, and at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, serving as a lasting reminder of the power of non-violence and the universal pursuit of peace.
An Alarming Rise of Violence Across the World
International statistics indicate that the world is experiencing a surge in violence not seen since the post-World War II era. According to the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), 2024 marked a serious new record: the highest number of armed conflicts in over seven decades, including 61 conflicts across 36 countries, resulting in widespread violence and significant human suffering. When these figures are combined with emerging threats from high levels of organized crime, urban and domestic violence, violent extremism, cyberattacks, and the persistent nuclear threat, the picture of global insecurity becomes even more concerning.
While this erosion of the international landscape poses significant challenges to both domestic and international legal order, it also underscores the urgent need for solidarity, preventive diplomacy, and the promotion of non-violent strategies. History has shown that sustainable solutions to violence are rarely achieved through force alone; rather, they require dialogue, respect for human rights, and the active engagement of civil society in fostering peace. This principle reflects the foundations of civilization and has historically served as the entry threshold for nations seeking to join the family of civilised nations. After all, humanity has the fundamental right to resist oppression, but such resistance should not be expressed through violence.
Non-Violent Movements for Political and Social Change
Non-violent movements have historically played a crucial role in advancing political and social change. Inspired by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, often described as “the politics of ordinary people,” these movements demonstrate that collective action can challenge oppression and inequality without resorting to violence.
Over 76 years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948. This landmark document, which later served as the foundation for numerous international treaties and covenants, asserts in its Preamble: “Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.” This principle suggests that when political order is no longer upheld through a legal framework, people may eventually feel compelled to resist oppression, but such resistance should be peaceful and grounded in the protection of human rights.
Non-violent movements, therefore, are not only morally compelling; they are legally and socially supported avenues for pursuing political change. From Gandhi’s campaign for India’s independence to the pro-democracy movements across the globe, peaceful activism remains a cornerstone of domestic and global stability.
The International Day of Non-Violence invites us not only to reflect on the threats of escalating violence but also to recognize the power of non-violent actions. In a world facing complex security challenges, the principles of non-violence, human rights, and civic engagement provide a roadmap for building a safer and more compassionate global community.
As individuals and societies, we are called to embody Gandhi’s vision: to resist oppression, confront injustice, and pursue change, but always through dialogue, understanding, and non-violent action. In doing so, we honor the legacy of past movements and contribute to a future where peace is not merely an aspiration, but a lived reality. This approach also supports the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, reinforcing the link between non-violence, justice, and global development.
Sources
UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/61/271, 27 June 2007, https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/61/271
Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), https://www.prio.org/news/3616
UN, A New Era of Conflict and Violence, https://www.un.org/en/un75/new-era-conflict-and-violence
Civilised Nations, Max Planck Encyclopedias of International Law, Oxford Public International Law, https://opil.ouplaw.com/display/10.1093/law:epil/9780199231690/law-9780199231690-e1748
UN, International Day of None-Violence, https://www.un.org/en/observances/non-violence-day
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, The Indian Independence Struggle,
https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/indian-independence-struggle-1930-1931/
Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Facilitating Peaceful Protests, https://www.geneva-academy.ch/joomlatools-files/docman-files/Facilitating%20Peaceful%20Protests%20.pdf
Agents for Change: Civil Society Roles in Preventing War & Building Peace https://www.gppac.net/files/2018-11/Agents%20for%20Change.pdf
*Visiting Researchers at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute are encouraged to contribute independent research and analysis. All views and opinions expressed by Visiting Researchers in publications, interviews, or public appearances are their own and do not represent institutional positions of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute.