In order to increase public awareness about conflict resolution and its many benefits, in 2005, the Board of Directors of the Association for Conflict Resolution adopted a resolution designating October 20, 2005 as Conflict Resolution Day. The Association for Conflict Resolution coordinated its efforts with other conflict resolution organizations and reached out to local, state and international groups to build interest in holding local celebrations in conjunction with Conflict Resolution Day. In March 2006, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution designating the third Thursday in October as Conflict Resolution Day. This year Conflict Resolution Day will be on October 19, 2024.

 Conflict Resolution Day was conceived to promote awareness of mediation, arbitration, conciliation and other creative, peaceful meant of resolving conflict, to promote the use of conflict resolution in schools, families, businesses, communities, governments and the legal system, to recognize the significant contributions of (peaceful) conflict resolvers and to obtain national synergy by having celebrations happening across the country and around the world on the same day.

 October has become a time to promote and celebrate peaceful conflict resolution practices worldwide.  Dedicated dispute resolution practitioners are helping to educate the public about mediation and other innovative conflict management processes.  The American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Association of Conflict Resolution, as well as numerous other organizations are working to raise awareness of the importance of mediation and conflict resolution.