Today, 16th November is my birthday and it is also ‘International Day for Tolerance’!
On 16th November, 1995, the Member States of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted their Declaration of Principles on Tolerance. Since that day, they have taken one day annually to generate awareness of tolerance and the dangers of intolerance. UNESCO has 195 member states and nine associate members who stand united to promote, respect and appreciate the world’s cultures.
The International Day for Tolerance is a time for people to learn about respecting and recognizing the rights and beliefs of others. It is also a time of reflection and debate on the negative effects of intolerance. Live discussions and debates take place across the world on this day, focusing on how various forms of injustice, oppression, racism and unfair discrimination have a negative impact on society. Many educators use the theme of this day to help students in classrooms or in lecture theatres understand issues centered on tolerance, human rights and non-violence. These issues are also found in text books, lesson material and other educational resources used for this event. The UN Chronicle Online Education also features articles about tolerance. Information on the day is disseminated through flyers, posters, news articles and broadcasts, and other promotional material to raise people’s awareness about the importance of tolerance. Other activities include essays, dialogues and story-telling of people’s personal accounts of intolerance and how it affects their lives. Human rights activists also use this day as an opportunity to speak out on human rights laws, especially with regard to banning and punishing hate crimes and discrimination against minorities. And in the workplace, special training programs, talks, or messages from workplace leaders about the importance of tolerance are utilized on this day.
THE UN’S SUGGESTIONS FOR FIGHTING INTOLERANCE ARE:
Combating intolerance requires the law. People cannot be allowed to settle disputes with violence. States must enforce human rights laws.
Education is one of the steps that must be taken to fight intolerance. Prejudice and biased attitudes are often based in ignorance and misunderstanding between individuals or cultures.
Creating tolerance requires freedom to information.
Those who are fighting for tolerance need individual awareness.
Although the problem is global, the solution is local.
The UN’s International Day for Tolerance is a global observance and not a public holiday.
Belated birthday wishes, uncle.
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