This International Day of Peace, voices from Colombia, Uganda, and Catalonia reveal how trust, dialogue, and persistence lay the groundwork for lasting peace.

Every year on 21 September, we mark the International Day of Peace, a moment to reflect on what it takes to build and sustain peace. This year’s theme, “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” celebrates the everyday architects of peace, the people who build trust, bridge divides and keep dialogue alive.

Because peace rarely comes from a single agreement or defining moment. It is built step by step, through conversations, relationships and acts of persistence that often happen far from the spotlight. In our work, we support people navigating conflict by bringing them together, creating space for mediation and helping them address conflict constructively. Insider mediators can be crucial to these efforts, drawing on their local knowledge and trusted relationships to open channels of communication and help parties move towards peace.

For this year’s International Day of Peace, peacebuilders and mediators from Colombia, Uganda and Catalonia share their experiences of the often-unseen work behind peace processes, and the small but important steps that can lay the foundations for lasting peace.

Watch their reflections.

Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao, Delegate for Church-State Relations of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference, played an important role in Colombia’s peace process. He emphasises the importance of working directly with local actors affected by conflict, building trust through dialogue, and recognising that meaningful peace takes time.

Stella Sabiiti is a Ugandan peace and security practitioner and policymaker. She reflects on her role as an insider mediator, drawing on trusted relationships and a deep understanding of the parties to create space for dialogue and help overcome obstacles.

Former President of Catalonia Pere Aragonès, who was closely involved in negotiations with the Spanish government over the Catalan political conflict, addresses the importance of being realistic about demands, celebrating small wins along the way and maintaining confidence throughout the process.

Our Executive Director Chris Coulter highlights that while signing an agreement marks an important transition, its lasting impact depends on what happens next, from putting commitments into practice to sustaining engagement.

Happening today: Building peace from the ground up

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