International Day for Tolerance 2021:

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Why in the news?

The United Nations observes “International Day for Tolerance” on 16th November every year.

Objectives:

•  It aims to create public awareness of the dangers of intolerance. 
• It also aims to strengthen tolerance among people and cultures by fostering mutual understanding.
• In 1995, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) declared the United Nations Year for Tolerance. In 1996, the UN declared November 16 as the International Day for Tolerance.
• The commitment of the UN to strengthen tolerance by fostering mutual understanding among cultures and peoples lies at the core of the UN Charter as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Tolerance is the means to recognize universal human rights and ensure the survival of mixed communities in every religion.
• Theme: “We can all practice tolerance and respect for diversity – values that bring people together and make us all stronger.”

History:

• In 1995, the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance by UNESCO’s Member States was adopted.
•  In the same year, the UN created the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence to mark the UN Year for Tolerance and the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. 
• The Prize is awarded every two years on the International Day for Tolerance.
• This day pays tribute to the values of the Mahatma of peace, non-violence and equality.

Madanjeet singh:

• Madan Jeet Singh was an Indian diplomat. He was born in Lahore, British India in 1924.
•  He took active participation in the Quit India Movement of Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 against the Colonial rule of Britishers. 
• Madan Jeet was imprisoned for his actions against the British government. 
• He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1953 and served various countries such as Greece, Yugoslavia, lost, Sweden, Spain, USSR, Sweden and Denmark. 
• He joined as ambassador of India to UNESCO in 1982. 
• In 2000, Madan Jit became the goodwill ambassador of the United Nations.
• The UNESCO executive board created the UNESCO Madan Jeet Singh prize for promotion of tolerance and nonviolence for his lifelong devotion to the cause of peace and communal harmony.

How Can Intolerance Be Countered?

• Laws: Governments are responsible for enforcing human rights laws, for banning and punishing hate crimes and discrimination and for ensuring equal access to dispute settlement.
• Education: Laws are necessary but not sufficient for countering intolerance, greater emphasis needs to be placed on educating more and better.
• Access to information: The most efficient way to limit the influence of hatemongers is to promote press freedom and press pluralism, in order to allow the public to differentiate between facts and opinions.
• Individual awareness: “Intolerance breeds intolerance”. In order to fight intolerance individuals should become aware of the link between their behavior and the vicious cycle of mistrust and violence in society.

Local solutions: When confronted with an escalation of intolerance around us, we must not wait for governments and institutions to act alone. We are all part of the solution.