International Day for Tolerance

International Day for Tolerance is celebrated on November 16, every year by UNESCO and several other international organizations. The day is observed with the aim to increase awareness about the importance of tolerance in the society and the negative effects of intolerance among the people. In this article you will read about the day, its history and significance .

As UPSC surprises aspirants with questions linked with what usually is assumed to be trivia; it is advisable that one must scroll through the facts about International Day for Tolerance to get the basic information. The topic, if at all asked in the UPSC Prelims, will form the part of the current affairs.

Facts about International Day for Tolerance For UPSC Exam

Read the below-mentioned facts about International Day for Tolerance; and aid your IAS Exam preparation along with other competitive exams’ preparation.

The topic can be asked as a Current Affairs Question in IAS Prelims. Visit the attached link to attempt practice quizzes on current affairs.

To read more about the other Important International and National days click on the link. Such days and events become very important for UPSC Prelims.

About International Day for Tolerance

• The International Day for Tolerance appreciates the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others.
• The day underscores that all people are naturally diverse and it is only tolerance that can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe.
• The UN declared day aims to create public awareness on the dangers of intolerance among the people and to ensure that people are aware of the negativity that stems from intolerance.
• The International Day for Tolerance is celebrated under various themes, each year. Theme for International Day for Tolerance 2021 was, “Tolerance is respect, acceptance, and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s cultures, forms of expression, and ways of being human“.

Read about the Return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in the linked article.

Background of International Day for Tolerance

• The United Nations announced a Year for Tolerance in 1995 and on November 16 of the same year UNESCO formed the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• A Resolution 51/95 was passed in 1996 by the UN General Assembly to declare November 16 as the International Day of Tolerance.
• Thereafter all the member states were invited and a declaration of principles on tolerance, along with a follow-up plan of action for upcoming years, was also adopted by the UN Assembly along with observing the International Day for Tolerance.
• The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize was also created by the UN for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence in 1995.

Significance of International Day for Tolerance

• The UN International Day for Tolerance aims to strengthen tolerance among people and cultures by fostering mutual understanding.
• The day affirms that tolerance is silent support towards the world’s cultures, religions, and societies and also recognizes human rights and freedom of others.
• The major objective of the day is to increase the acceptance of the world’s diversity as well as the inclusivity of various religions, languages, and cultures.
• The day spreads the message in the world that there is no need for people to develop any kind of fear, feeling of exclusion, or xenophobia towards any religion or culture.

The Madanjeet Singh Prize of UNESCO

• UNESCO awards the Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of tolerance and nonviolence every two years on the International Day for Tolerance. The winner of the prize is presented with prize money of hundred thousand USD.
• The award was created for the lifelong devotion of Madanjeet Singh to the cause of peace and communal harmony.
• Madan Jeet Singh was an Indian diplomat, born in Lahore, British India in 1924. He actively participated in the Quit India Movement of Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 against the Colonial rule of Britishers.
• 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, he became the goodwill ambassador of the United Nations.

Read about the Quit India Movement in the linked article.

Note: As UPSC 2022 approaches, use BYJU’S free Daily Video Analysis of The Hindu Newspaper to augment your preparation.

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