Ten Ideas for Observing the International Day for Tolerance

Contents

1. Diversity in Your Community
2. Human Rights
3. Do-It-Yourself Tolerance Program
4. No to Violence
5. Ecological, Diversity and Human Diversity
6. Religious Tolerance
7 Current Events
8. Sports and Tolerance
9. Creativity at Work
10. International Link-ups

These guidelines are intended to stimulate creative thinking in municipalities and parliaments, schools and universities, clubs and associations, work places, non governmental organizations, and the media in Member States of every region, toward the observance of the annual International Day for Tolerance on 16 November.

At the initiative of UNESCO, 1995 was declared the United Nations Year for Tolerance, and it saw the launching of a world-wide campaign for tolerance and non-violence. The International Day for Tolerance grew out of the momentum of that Year.

Building tolerance and trust in diverse communities is not done overnight, but takes time and commitment. Building tolerance requires access to education. Intolerance is often rooted in ignorance and fear; fear of the unknown, of the other, other cultures, religions and nations. Intolerance is also closely linked to an exaggerated sense of self-worth and pride: notions taught and learned at an early age. Therefore in coming years, we need to place greater emphasis on educating children about tolerance, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

But we should not forget that education does not end in school, that adults - Firstly as individuals capable of committing acts of intolerance but more importantly in their capacity as parents, law-makers and law-enforcement officials - also need to be considered a priority target of our educational efforts.