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The World Peace Prayer Society
at the United Nations



The World Peace Prayer Society is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information since 1990. In this capacity, the Society has been working in partnership with many spiritual, religious, values-based, educational, and peace organizations. The first World Peace Prayer Ceremony with the flag of each country held at UN Headquarters in the General Assembly Hall was performed on Peace Prayer Day in 1990 with over 2,000 people taking part.  

Since 1997, the World Peace Flag Ceremony has also been an integral part of the International Day of Peace program at the United Nations.  

For more information about the
International Day of Peace, click here.




Children participate in a World Peace Prayer Ceremony on the International Day of Peace at UN Headquarters in 2000
Peace Pole at UN lobby
 There is a Peace Pole in the lobby of the United Nations headquarters in New York, by the tour desk. UN personnel, NGO representatives and visitors alike are invited to place their prayer or message of peace inside the hollow Pole, which features the prayer "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in the six official UN languages. Peace Poles can be found in many parts of the UN system, including the UN Office in Nairobi, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations in New York, the offices of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in New York, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in New York, the World Bank in Washington, DC, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Vienna, and many more. In 2000, a desktop Peace Pole was presented to the Ambassador of every Member State of the UN on their country's national holiday. 
A Peace Pole in the UN lobby invites visitors to insert their own personal prayers for peace in its prayer slot.
The World Peace Prayer Society continues to work within the UN system to encourage prayer for world peace and support the inclusion of expressions of faith and values in UN documents and activities. Whenever possible, prayers and meditations for peace are conducted within UN headquarters or at UN events and conferences in various parts of the world. The World Peace Prayer Society also participates actively in UN conferences and meetings, and maintains a position on the governing bodies of the Committee of Religious Non-Governmental Organizations at the United Nations, the United Religions Initiative at the United Nations, the Values Caucus, and the Spiritual Caucus at the United Nations. 

In the words of Society chairperson Masami Saionji, "The problems of the world are complex. They cannot be solved by changes in political and economic institutions alone, nor can they be solved by a handful of wise men. The solution lies within our hearts. We are all citizens of the earth -- equally responsible for the care of our planet. If each and every one of us can awaken to universal love, it is then that we will see true peace and harmony on earth. May Peace Prevail on Earth -- this simple message can be embraced by people from all walks of life and of every generation -- in any place and at any time. This simple prayer can inspire that sense of spirituality and universal love which can lead humanity to the path of peace." 


Join us in supporting the work of the United Nations with the prayer
"May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

May Peace Prevail on Earth


Message from
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
December 1995


"I welcome the efforts by the World Peace Prayer Society in promoting the cause of peace and supporting the work of the United Nations. Its message, May Peace Prevail on Earth, is very much in keeping with the goals of the Charter and humanity's most fervent wish."



Boutros Boutros-Ghali