UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon marked on Tuesday the first International Day of Nonviolence with a call for "true tolerance and nonviolence."

    "The United Nations was created in the hope that humanity could not only end wars, it could eventually make them unnecessary," Ban said. "Our founders hoped that the organization could help stop violence by spreading a culture of peace, promoting tolerance and advancing human dignity."

    Mahatma Gandhi's peaceful struggles against unjust regimes in South Africa and India captured the world's imagination. And his incorporation of nonviolence into everyday life inspired countless individuals to lead better, more meaningful lives, Ban said.

    "The Mahatma's inspiration is needed now more than ever," the secretary-general said.

    "All around us we see communities increasingly mired in rising intolerance and cross-cultural tensions. We see extremist dogma and violent ideologies gaining ground, as moderate forces retreat," he said.

    "Today, there is a great need to address these trends, and to promote true tolerance and nonviolence at every level, from the individual all the way up to the state," Ban added.

    In a resolution adopted on June 15, the UN General Assembly decided to observe the International Day of Nonviolence on Oct. 2each year so as to "disseminate the message of nonviolence, including through education and public awareness."