International Day for Tolerance.
Embracing our differences and moving forward together.
In 1996, the UN General Assembly (by resolution 51/95) invited UN Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November. This action followed up on the United Nations Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 at the initiative of UNESCO, as outlined in the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the Year.
The United Nations has launched a new campaign to promote tolerance, respect and dignity across the world. TOGETHER is a global campaign that aims to reduce negative perceptions and attitudes towards refugees and migrants, and to strengthen the social contract between host countries and communities, and refugees and migrants.
It is the 21st century yet it is surprising that we still have identity based conflicts from the most developed to developing countries .We are humans and the world is for us all to live in. Yes we may be different just as salt and sugar but we can all thrive in our diversity.
Tolerance is not about putting up with a certain set of people but on the contrary it means embracing our differences and moving forward together .We all share this world so we might as well slowly but gradually live in peace with each other regardless of race , religion , ethnic background and belief systems. It’s always easier said than done but think about it, if it is not for tolerance how else would we have had former president Barack Obama become the first black man to be the president of United States of America for two terms. It was unthinkable, crazy, wishful thinking but he dared walk the talk everyone whispered about.
Currently the world is talking about Ilhan Omar. After the start of the civil war in 1991, in her home country Somalia, she and her family fled the country and spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya. In 1995, Omar and her family immigrated to the United States, initially settling in Arlington Virginia before they moved and settled in Minneapolis, where young Ilhan learned English in only three months. Her father and grandfather emphasized during her upbringing the importance of democracy.
In 2016 the one-time refugee became the first Somali-American elected to a state legislature in the U.S. when she won a seat in the Minnesota House from Minneapolis, which has a large Somali community. Her latest victory in Minnesota’s 5th District also makes her one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, along with Democrat Rashida Tlaib, who won a Detroit-area seat. Omar, 36, has captured international and national attention because of her life story as a refugee who made her way into elected office. She immigrated to the United States at age 12 and served as a Minneapolis City Council policy aid before winning election to the Legislature in 2016.
Our differences are not meant to divide us but rather creatively help us build empires and make the world a better place if not for tolerance for diversity .In a world that chooses to whisper choose to shout to the rooftops by being the change you want to see, it begins within to manifest outside. As we celebrate today, remember you don’t have to know a culture, belief in certain customs, belong to that race or religion for you to respect it. Our diversity is our greatest strength.
Sub Saharan International Model United Nations (SAIMUN) is a five-day international relations simulation for both high school and university/college students that is held annually at the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) Gigiri. The international meeting is attended by more than 800 students from all over the world, in which they debate the major issues of the international political agenda. SAIMUN19 now beckons all of us to once again take part. The theme is “Youth Leadership at its Peak:The role of the Youth In Sustainable Development” It will be held from 8th -12th July 2019, so make sure your calendars are marked!
SAIMUN also strives to offer an all-rounded journalism experience to the media team through simulating different media: a newspaper — The Daily SAIMUNER, a video news channel on YouTube — SAIMUN News, this blog along with various social media platforms. To get all this and more, subscribe to our mailing list below.
