Tolerance is key to peace and fight against terrorism, UN officials say

Commemorating the International Day for Tolerance today, United Nations officials stressed that respect for diversity was crucial to securing peace and winning the battle against terrorism.

In his message marking the occasion, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that following the 11 September attacks, millions of people united in expressing humanity's shared values. "One of those values is tolerance," he noted. "It is a value that makes peace possible."

Mr. Annan explained that exclusion and marginalization could lead to hostility and fanaticism - a process which would generate further intolerance. "The promotion of tolerance is thus an important part of the fight we are conducting against terrorism," he said. "It lies at the heart of our objective to create a global community built on the shared values of solidarity, social justice and respect for human rights."

"Dialogue must prevail over violence, understanding over indifference, knowledge of others over ignorance and prejudice," he stressed, calling on the international community to renew its commitment to tolerance. "In the face of rising intolerance," he warned, "the risks posed by indifference are far too great."

Joining this call, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, said that in today's ever-more interdependent world, "tolerance is not a luxury - it must become our way of life."

In a statement issued in New Delhi, Mrs. Robinson agreed that the recent terrorist attacks had added impetus to the UN's work for tolerance. "Even before the horrendous events of 11 September, the world was facing the stark choice of uniting in all its rich diversity or sinking deeper into conflict born of hate of the other."

She pointed to the significance of September's World Conference against Racism, which she said "marked a historic turning point in battling intolerance." The forum had adopted a global anti-discrimination agenda on 8 September which "became fundamental three days later following the terrorist attacks in the United States," she said.