At a time when extremism and fanaticism are too often unleashed, when “the venom of hatred” continues to poison a part of humanity, “tolerance has never been more vital a virtue”, the United Nations cultural agency’s chief has said in her message on the International Day for Tolerance.
The “multi-headed monster” of intolerance, has created a visible and violent “tsunami of hatred” that is gathering speed across the world, said Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday.
On the heels of a two-day United Nations High-Level meeting on Promoting Tolerance and Reconciliation, Fostering Peaceful, Inclusive Societies and Countering Violent Extremism, President of General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, has called for the defeat of obscurantism and urged faith leaders around the world to denounce those who preach intolerance in the name of religion.
Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the United Nations today urged Member States to boost efforts towards ending discrimination around the world and ratify a critical international convention aimed at abolishing racism in all its forms.
A key United Nations committee has approved a draft resolution voicing concern at the overall rise in religious intolerance globally, including cases motivated by animosity towards Jews, Muslims and Christians, and urging countries to cultivate respect for all belief systems.
A United Nations expert has urged the development of agreed principles to respond to the growing trend in religious extremism, according to a report released today at UN Headquarters in New York.
