The International Day of Nonviolence is commemorated every year on 2 October. It was agreed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. It coincides with the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi and was chosen as a tribute to the man who successfully confronted the mighty British Empire, achieving India’s independence in 1947 through non-violent methods.

Nonviolence does not mean the absence of conflict, but rather a way of confronting it by stripping those in power of their legitimacy and/or cooperation. Nonviolence is the best response to hierarchical, authoritarian systems with asymmetrical power and few opportunities for participation.

The commemoration of the International Day of Nonviolence is an opportunity to disseminate its meaning and raise public awareness in order to create awareness in favor of peace and disarmament, to advance in Active Nonviolence that allows us to reject not only physical violence, but also all forms of economic, racial, psychological, religious and gender violence.

This date has since been taken up by the Humanist Movement and its organisations, and every year around the world we organize activities on this date in order to raise awareness of the contribution that nonviolence as a strategy can make to the development of humanity. 

Our biggest contribution to the celebration of this day so far has been the three World Marches for Peace and Nonviolence in 2009 , 2019 and 2024 which started on 2 October.