International Day of Non-Violence2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/61/271
About International Day of Non-Violence
International Day of Non-Violence is the United Nations observance held on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. It promotes the message and principle of non-violence through education and public awareness.
The UN framing connects non-violence with a culture of peace, tolerance and understanding. It is an opportunity to examine how conflicts can be addressed without dehumanization, retaliation or deliberate harm.
Why International Day of Non-Violence matters
Non-violence can involve disciplined civic action, dialogue, mediation, education and efforts to change unjust systems without deliberately inflicting violence.
The principle should not be used to pressure a person experiencing abuse, coercion or immediate danger to stay silent, remain in contact or avoid seeking protection. Safety and access to appropriate help remain important.
History of International Day of Non-Violence
The UN General Assembly established the International Day of Non-Violence through resolution 61/271 in 2007.
The date, 2 October, was chosen because it is Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. The resolution describes the day as an occasion to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
India
At the 103rd plenary meeting, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma introduced draft resolution A/61/L.62, International Day of Non-Violence, on behalf of 140 sponsors.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution 61/271
First documented observance
UN briefing material records the first observance of the International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October 2007.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day of Non-Violence
Study a documented non-violent movement and examine both its methods and historical context rather than reducing it to slogans.
Practice de-escalation in ordinary disagreements by separating criticism of an idea or action from attacks on a person’s humanity.
Support a credible peacebuilding, anti-violence or conflict-resolution organization working in your community.
Create a classroom discussion about the differences among non-violence, passivity, self-protection and peaceful civic action.
If discussing current conflicts, verify claims carefully and avoid content that glorifies violence or targets whole populations.
International Day of Non-Violence Facts
International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October.
The date is Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.
The UN General Assembly established the observance in 2007 through resolution 61/271.
Education and public awareness are part of the day’s stated purpose.
Non-violence should not be interpreted as a requirement to remain in an unsafe or abusive situation.
International Day of Non-Violence Messages
Wishing everyone observing International Day of Non-Violence a day of reflection, constructive dialogue and purposeful follow-through.
On International Day of Non-Violence, may awareness lead to informed discussion, practical action and respect for the communities at the heart of the observance.
May International Day of Non-Violence encourage thoughtful participation, shared responsibility and action that continues after the observance ends.
International Day of Non-Violence Quotes
“Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/61/271 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations General Assembly — A/61/PV.103, India introduces A/61/L.62 on behalf of 140 sponsors (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Meetings Coverage — first observance of International Day of Non-Violence (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day of Non-Violence (opens in a new tab)
Dedicated Authoritative Page
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of Non-Violence?
2 October The documented recurrence rule is: 2 October.
Does International Day of Non-Violence fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of Non-Violence an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day of Non-Violence?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as India.
Is International Day of Non-Violence international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When is International Day of Non-Violence?
It is observed every year on 2 October.
Why is it held on 2 October?
The date is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, whose philosophy and strategy of non-violence are central to the UN observance.
Does non-violence mean a person must tolerate abuse?
No. The observance should not be used to pressure anyone to remain in danger, avoid seeking protection or reconcile with an abuser.
Other observances on October 2
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World Card Making Day
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World Day for Farmed Animals
FARM’s organizational history says World Farm Animals Day began in 1983 and is now called World Day for Farmed Animals; FARM reporting identifies the annual observance date as 2 October.