As the name suggests, the international day of tolerance is observed across the globe to build tolerance among people and cultures. The main aim behind the declaration of the day was to make educational institutions and people at large believe that tolerance is an integral part of society.
Among other things, the declaration affirms that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others. People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe.
International Day of tolerance 2021: Date
The day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly and is celebrated on November 16, annually, across the globe.
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International Day of tolerance 2021: History
The day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996 after it adopted Resolution 51/95. The day was declared under the UN’s 1995 Principle on Tolerance. The 1995 declaration of Principles on Tolerance mentioned, “Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human.”
International Day of Tolerance 2021: What is The UNESCO – Madanjeet Singh Prize
In 1995, to mark the United Nations Year for Tolerance and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, UNESCO created a prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence. The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence rewards significant activities in the scientific, artistic, cultural or communication fields aimed at the promotion of a spirit of tolerance and non-violence. The creation of the Prize has been inspired by the ideals of UNESCO’s Constitution that proclaims that “peace if it is not to fail, must be founded on the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind”.
The prize is awarded every two years on the International Day for Tolerance, 16 November. The Prize may be awarded to institutions, organizations or persons, who have contributed in a particularly meritorious and effective manner to tolerance and non-violence, informs UNESCO’s site.
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International Day of Tolerance 2021: How to counter intolerance?
According to the UN’s site, the tolerance can be countered through the below-mentioned points:
Laws: Governments are responsible for enforcing human rights laws, for banning and punishing hate crimes and discrimination and for ensuring equal access to dispute settlement.
Education: Laws are necessary but not sufficient for countering intolerance, greater emphasis needs to be placed on educating more and better.
Access to information: The most efficient way to limit the influence of hatemongers is to promote press freedom and press pluralism, to allow the public to differentiate between facts and opinions.
Individual awareness: Intolerance breeds intolerance. To fight intolerance individuals should become aware of the link between their behaviour and the vicious cycle of mistrust and violence in society.