The United Nations recognizes November 16 as the International Day for Tolerance, which upholds UNESCO’s “Declaration of Principles on Tolerance.” Adopted in 1995, the declaration defines tolerance as “respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human.”
“Tolerance recognizes universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others,” the document notes. “People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe.”
In a 1997 resolution acknowledging the “United Nations Year for Tolerance,” the UN called “international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character” among the organization’s purposes.
The UN also sought to promote and encourage respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion./WDJ