Events

        On September 19th, the annual Peace Bell Ceremony was held in the Rose Garden at the United Nations Headquarters. Ambassador Yoshikawa and Madame Yoshikawa, as well as Parliamentary Vice-Minister Sonoura who was visiting New York for Debate of the Security Council have attended this event.

        The Peace Bell was originally cast from coins collected from 60 different countries, which was then donated to the United Nations by the United Nations Association of Japan on June 8th, 1954. Today, ringing the Bell each year on September 21st to celebrate the International Day of Peace has become the annual tradition. The Bell is scheduled to be placed back in the Japanese Garden within the UN Headquarters in 2015, making this year the last ceremony in the Rose Garden.

        The ceremony was attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Madame Yoo Soon-taek, President of the 69th Session of the General Assembly H.E. Sam Kahamba Kutesa and Madame Edith Gasana Kutesa, along with the members of the UN Secretariat and Missions. Ms. Midori Goto, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Mr. Yo-Yo Ma of the UN Messengers of Peace, and Ms. Adrienne Monique Coleman representing the UN Youth Champion for the International Year of Youth have also attended the event. The Secretary-General called for World Peace in his opening remarks, followed by a moment of silence before ringing the bell to celebrate this year's International Day of Peace.