Since the inaugural commemoration of the International Day of Peace in 1982, the Secretary-General has traditionally been the one to ring the Peace Bell, symbolizing the international community’s commitment to peace. For more than four decades, the Bell’s chime has served as the United Nations’ annual reminder that peace is neither guaranteed nor permanent. This year, the joint appearance of the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly adds a new layer of political symbolism: in a fractured world, peace must be a shared burden.

At the ceremony, Guterres delivered unusually forthright remarks: “Peace will not come by chance—it is forged through courage, compromise, and, above all, action.” Such direct language is rare in diplomatic discourse. He urged the international community to “silence the guns,” revive diplomacy, protect civilians, and uphold the UN Charter. He went further, noting that the drivers of modern conflict extend far beyond the battlefield: “We must act—to address inequality, exclusion, hate speech, and the chaos of a destabilized climate. We must act—by investing in prevention, dialogue, and trust-building.”

These remarks echoed his recent warning to the Security Council: “Peace is never automatic. Peace demands action. And peace demands leadership.” Peace, he stressed, is not an autopilot setting but a responsibility borne by political leaders. Amid widening geopolitical rifts, he called out states undermining international law and the UN Charter, and urged the Council to demonstrate genuine unity—“because a united Security Council can make a decisive contribution to peace.”

Guterres also issued a call to action within the United Nations itself. Peacekeeping operations, he noted, are facing unprecedented complexity: climate-driven instability, transnational crime, technological confrontation, and information manipulation have reshaped the landscape of modern conflict. “Now is the time to continue adapting and reforming our peace operations,” he said. Peacekeeping must become more flexible and responsive rather than remain constrained by legacy frameworks.

For a brief moment, as the Peace Bell rang, one might forget the turbulence of the world. Yet the Bell itself does not bring peace—it merely reminds us that peace depends on human will and collective action.

The Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly ringing the Bell shoulder to shoulder sent a clear message: in confronting shared global crises, peace requires stronger collective resolve, firmer political responsibility, and tangible, sustained action.

Peace is beautiful—but it demands action. That is the United Nations’ position, and the most sobering truth of our time.