Appealing everyone to explore the treasure in diversity and nurture tolerance as a means to promote appreciation of the rich diversity of our cultures and unique human qualities, the 2019 edition of International Day for Tolerance is celebrated worldwide on Saturday.
Highlighting the importance of finding harmony and understanding in the glorious diversity of each culture, Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO said, ” Tolerance is more than standing idly by or remaining insensitive to differences between men and women, cultures and beliefs, but instead a state of mind, an awareness and a requirement.”
Stressing that each culture should be perceived beyond immediate or apparent differences as it has wider impacts on universality and language of humanity, she further said, “Tolerance is to realize that cultural diversity is a form of wealth, not a form of wealth, not a factor of division.”
According to the UN, fighting intolerance requires:
Law: Governments are responsible for enforcing human rights laws and banning and punishing hate crimes and discrimination against minorities.
Education: Greater efforts must be made to teach children about tolerance, human rights and other ways of life, both at home and in school.
Information access: Policies must be developed to generate and promote press freedom and press pluralism, to allow the public to differentiate between facts and opinions.
Individual awareness: People should become aware of the link between their behavior and the vicious cycle of mistrust and violence in society, by asking yourself if you stereotype people, reject those who are different from you and/or blame your problems on ‘them’?
Local solutions: Tools of nonviolent action include discrediting hateful propaganda, co-organizing groups to confront problems and establishing grassroots networks to demonstrate solidarity with victims of intolerance.
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