United Nations observes the International Day of Non-Violence under General Assembly resolution 61/271
2 October 2026
The United Nations observes the International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
The day was established by General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271, adopted on 15 June 2007.
The UN page for the day carries Gandhi's words that non-violence "is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind" and is "mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man".
The observance defines non-violence as the rejection of physical force to achieve social or political change.
It groups non-violent action into three categories: protest and persuasion, non-cooperation, and non-violent intervention.
The page cites Professor Gene Sharp's definition of non-violent action as a technique by which people who reject passivity and submission can wage conflict without violence.
In plain words
General Assembly resolution A decision adopted by the UN General Assembly — Resolutions numbered by session, as in 61/271 for the 61st session.
Non-cooperation Withholding of cooperation from an authority — One of the three categories of non-violent action named by the UN.