Building
tolerance and trust
in diverse communities
takes time and commitment.
Tolerance Day is an
opportunity to see what
progress has been made
throughout the year,
and rededicate our commitment
to promoting tolerance,
respect, cooperation
and dialogue between
different cultures in
our communities and
between nations.
What is tolerance?
UNESCO's Declaration
of Principles on Tolerance
defines tolerance as
"respect, acceptance
and appreciation of
the rich diversity of
our world's cultures,
our forms of expression
and ways of being human.
It is fostered by knowledge,
openness, communication,
and freedom of thought,
conscience and belief.
Tolerance is harmony
in difference."
Intolerance is often
caused by ignorance
and fear. When we don't
know about other cultures,
religions or nations
we might fear them.
Education is the most
important way to promote
tolerance. Teaching
people what our shared
rights and freedoms
are is the first step
in tolerance education.
Learning about other
cultures is also important
to help us see the similarities
between all cultures,
and to respect and celebrate
our differences.
Taking the Tolerance
Pledge, found at
Tolerance.org, is a
way that each of us
can help to make every
day Tolerance Day. "I
pledge to have respect
for people whose abilities,
beliefs, culture, race,
sexual identity or other
characteristics are
different from my own."
