International Tolerance Day: Celebrate diversity of cultures and belief

KARACHI: International Tolerance Day being observed today with an emphasis to curb intolerance and negative attitudes in a society.

It is a day for respecting the cultures, beliefs and traditions of others and understanding the risks posed by intolerance in the society.

The day being marked by holding discussions and debates across the world with specially focusing on the negative impact of various forms of injustice, oppression, racism and unfair discrimination that produce intolerance in the society.

The day being observed across the globe including Pakistan with an aim to educate people about the need for tolerance in society and to promote a culture of tolerance.

Intolerance creates negative social attitudes and individual behaviors resulting in restlessness, inferiority complex and stress, experts said.

Pakistan is facing a huge challenge of intolerance shattering the social fabric of the society and urging the government and individual to curb the menace on war footings.

Human rights activists use this day as an opportunity to speak out on human rights laws, especially with regard to banning and punishing hate crimes and discrimination against minorities. Special training programs, talks, or messages from workplace leaders about the importance of tolerance may be utilized on this day in the workplace.

On 16 November 1995, the member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance.

The Declaration, among other things, calls for the celebration of an international day on the subject of tolerance for the education of the global populace on the subject and its related issues.