Benjamin Ferencz speaking at the 2005 Unlearning Intolerance Seminar. Video courtesy of UNTV
Tolerance
In its extreme, intolerance leads to conflicts and wars. There is also racial, ethnic, and religious intolerance, as was evident in conflicts such as in Bosnia and Rwanda. 1995 was declared the United Nations Year for Tolerance by the United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 1993, with UNESCO the lead organization. The idea and practice of tolerance was widely promoted in schools in many member states. Tolerance was held to be an ‘endangered virtue’ in many parts of the world, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said that five key planks were required to overcome intolerance: law, education, access to information, individual awareness and local solutions. Tolerance is thus a political, legal and moral duty to protect and preserve human rights. The International Day of Tolerance is celebrated on November 16 every year, in recognition of the Paris Declaration which was signed that day in 1995 by 185 member states.
Create films on tolerance/intolerance in your communities
Additional information:
Declaration of Principles on Tolerance
“The Unlearning Intolerance Series” seminar
Find out more about the other UN Global Themes
Climate Change
| Human Rights
| Intellectual Property
| Peace
| Tolerance
| Migration