International Day for Tolerance

International Day for Tolerance History

International Day for Tolerance is a global observance that encourages education, respect, and understanding among diverse cultures, religions, and belief systems. The observance promotes open-mindedness and acceptance, aiming to counter prejudice, discrimination, and hatred in society. Important aspects of the day include addressing intolerance through dialogue, education, and community engagement, as well as cultivating respect for cultural diversity and human rights.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established the International Day for Tolerance on November 16, 1995, as a response to the United Nations' Year for Tolerance in the same year. Australia's multicultural society, with its well-established policies fostering cultural diversity and inclusiveness, resonates with the core values of this observance. The country is home to people from over 200 different countries and ethnicities, and therefore, the observance holds significant importance to the people of Australia in promoting cultural understanding, mutual respect, social cohesion and harmony within the community.

The International Day for Tolerance is observed in Australia through various activities, including cultural events, workshops, and educational programs in schools and communities. These events create opportunities for diverse groups to come together, share their traditions and stories, and foster understanding and appreciation for each other's unique differences. Public figures, organisations, and individuals across the nation also utilise this observance to highlight the importance of tolerance and celebrate Australia's rich cultural diversity. In line with the global observance, the International Day for Tolerance in Australia takes place annually on November 16th.

Facts about International Day for Tolerance

• The theme for Tolerance Day in 2022 was Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human.
• You can counter intolerance in 5 ways:
  1) Fighting intolerance with law
  2) Fighting intolerance with education
  3) Fighting intolerance with access to information
  4) Fighting intolerance by individual awareness
  5) Fighting intolerance with local solutions
• Xenophobia is the fear or hatred of strangers. It is another word for intolerance.
• Australia is a secular country, meaning that there is a separation of church and state. People are free to practice their religion without interference from the government, and there is generally a high level of religious tolerance and acceptance.
• Australia has a long history of accepting refugees and displaced persons since World War II. The country continues to accept thousands of refugees each year under its Humanitarian Programme.

In the News and Trending in Australia for International Day for Tolerance

Top things to do in Australia for this observance

• Raise awareness on social media by using the tags #InternationalDayforTolerance, #ToleranceDay, and #LoveNotHateTolerate.
• Assess the impact of tolerance on your society, its policies and your life. How does this compare to other societies? Do a bit of research to see how different types of governments and policies impact tolerance in a society.
• Many organizations in Australia are dedicated to promoting tolerance, understanding, and diversity. Consider volunteering your time or donating resources to support their work.
• Australia is home to a diverse range of religious communities, and visiting different places of worship can be a great way to understand other faiths and cultures better.