Written question asked by Lord King of West Bromwich (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour) on Monday, 2 November 2009.

International Day of Non-Violence

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they promoted 2 October as an international day of non-violence, as designated by the United Nations as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Answer: In order to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) closed all of its offices in India on 2 October 2009. The FCO did not actively promote 2 October as the international day of non-violence. The UK played a key role in establishing 21 September as the UN global international day of peace and a day of global ceasefire and non-violence through co-sponsorship with Costa Rica. In support of this day, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and UK allied forces in Helmand, Afghanistan, did not engage in offensive military operations on 21 September 2009.

Secondary information