International Day for Tolerance 

About International Day for Tolerance 

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Dates of International Day for Tolerance
2026 United NationsNov 16 United Nations Mon, Nov 16Not A Public Holiday 2025 United NationsNov 16 United Nations Sun, Nov 16Not A Public Holiday 2024 United NationsNov 16 United Nations Sat, Nov 16Not A Public Holiday 2023 United NationsNov 16 United Nations Thu, Nov 16Not A Public Holiday 2022 United NationsNov 16 United Nations Wed, Nov 16Not A Public Holiday
Summary
On the day of its fiftieth anniversary, 16 November 1995, UNESCO's Member States adopted a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance.

"Tolerance does not mean indifference or a grudging acceptance of others. It is a way of life based on mutual understanding and respect for others, and on the belief that global diversity is to be embraced, not feared." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Background

In 1996, the United Nations General Assembly (by resolution 51/95) invited UN member states to celebrate the International Day for Tolerance on November 16. The day is celebrated every year on November 16th.

The Rwandan and Bosnian genocides took place in the 1990s in the context of ethnic and cultural conflicts in Africa, the Balkans and the Caucasus. The Day of Tolerance began in honour of the suggestions made by families of genocide victims to "promote the values of tolerance and peace among all peoples of the world in the interest of conflict prevention, promotion of human rights".

What happens on International Day of Tolerance?

International Day of Tolerance is a day declared by UNESCO to spread public awareness about the dangers of dissent, misunderstanding and becoming intolerable around the world. On the occasion of this day, various conferences and ceremonies are organized by UNESCO every year. In such ceremonies, the promotion of tolerance and non-violence is seriously discussed.

Around the world, modernization is bringing about profound changes in societies. This is opening up huge opportunities for communication and exchange. At the same time, other new challenges such as inequality and poverty are also being raised. Now that we see the rise of unethical politics and divisive debates in different places, we are now rejecting diversity as a source of weakness. Abuse, hatred, and terrorist attacks have not been able to unite the human community. In this context, the lack of tolerance, harmony, and tolerance is understood to be greater with modernization. Tolerance will play a key role in getting rid of this growing inhuman complexity in today's society.

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