Updates

Aim

The International Day for Tolerance affirms that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference, but rather respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world's cultures and forms of expression. Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedom of others. People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe.

Background

The Member States of UNESCO adopted a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance on 16 November 1995 – the 50th anniversary of the organisation.

The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 51/95 in 1996, and invited the UN Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November. Tolerance is described as not only a moral duty, but also as a political and legal obligation for all individuals, groups and Member States. It places tolerance in relation to the international Human Rights Instruments drawn up over the past 50 years and emphasizes that Member States should draft new legislation when necessary to ensure equality of treatment and of opportunity for all groups and individuals in society.

Along with outright injustice and violence, discrimination and marginalization are common forms of intolerance. Education for tolerance should aim at countering influences that lead to fear and exclusion of others, and should help young people develop capacities for independent judgement, critical thinking and ethical reasoning.

The diversity of our world's many religions, languages, cultures and ethnicities is not a pretext for conflict; it is rather a treasure that enriches us all.

Messages of Inspiration

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message: “Our practice of tolerance must mean more than peaceful co-existence, crucial as that is. It must be an active understanding fostered through dialogue and positive engagement with others.” He continued: “We all have a responsibility to protect those vulnerable to discrimination, whether based on race, religion, nationality, language, gender, sexual orientation or other factors”.

In her message, Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO said “(It) Tolerance is a vital challenge for peace. It also drives social innovation, a source of renewal for societies and ideas. No single country can meet our shared challenges. No culture has a monopoly over universality. If, together, we want to find new solutions to sustainable development issues and emerge from crises successfully, we need everyone to participate. A culture of tolerance is vital for the future of Nations and grows stronger through the daily behaviour of each and every one of us”.

International Day for Tolerance in Africa

Africa has been plagued by wars and conflict for centuries and the western media continues to present African countries in a constant state of conflict and crises. Decolonization has left many countries in Africa searching for their identity and fierce struggles for the power of governance and leadership. In many cases the political maps drawn by European colonizers did not consider all elements when re-drawing some of the continent’s borders.

Ghana

The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) is set to embark on a walk to mark the International Day of Tolerance. The walk dubbed "MUSIGA Tolerance Walk" is part of their plan for this quarter of the year. The walk is expected to bring together over 1,000 musicians in Ghana to march against the politics of insults in Ghana.

Kenya

The Chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), Mzalendo Kibunjia, announced that this day is especially significant for Kenyans at a time when the Al Shabaab threat has left some communities feeling unfairly targeted. He urges responsibility in combating intolerance.

Read Mr Kibunjia’s full dissertation on the Facebook Page of the NCIC on “Concerns on Rising Religious, Ethnic and Political Intolerance”.