On This Day: The International Day for Tolerance

Today marks two eventful occasions in the history of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The first occurred in 1945 with the founding of the organization. For this agency, “it is not enough to build classrooms in devastated countries or to publish scientific breakthroughs. Education, Social and Natural Science, Culture, and Communication are the means to a far more ambitious goal: to build peace in the minds of men,” according to UNESCO.org.

Currently some of its main objectives fall into what is called the Millennium Development Goals. Among other things, this initiative seeks to aid in reversing the loss of environmental resources by 2015, and, inside developing countries, halve the number of persons living in extreme poverty by the same year. There are also plans in place to ensure universal education in all countries.

The organization, based in Paris, states it currently has 193 member states and six associate members with its most recent member, the Faroe Islands, having entered in October 2009.

The second occasion is the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Seville Statement on Violence. In 1989 at the 25th session of the General Conference, UNESCO adopted this document which had been drafted in Seville, Spain, in May of the same year. Written by international scholars in varying fields of science, its stated purpose was that of challenging “a number of alleged biological findings that have been used … to justify violence and war”. These scholars believed that, in refuting the idea that organized violence is somehow biologically derived, they could contribute significantly to the process of establishing world peace. They in turn penned five propositions in an attempt to dispel what they found to be a pessimistic viewpoint toward the behavior of man. These points began with five basic assertions, including:

1. “It is scientifically incorrect to say that we have inherited a tendency to make war from our animal ancestors.”

2. “It is scientifically incorrect to say that war or any other violent behaviour is genetically programmed into our human nature.”

3. “It is scientifically incorrect to say that in the course of human evolution there has been a selection for aggressive behaviour.”

4. “It is scientifically incorrect to say that humans have a ‘violent brain’.”

5. “It is scientifically incorrect to say that war is caused by ‘instinct’ or any single motivation.”

In closing, the scientists argued that “the same species who invented war is capable of inventing peace. The responsibility lies with each of us.”

Aside from these two momentous days in the history of UNESCO, the organization has observed November 16th as the International Day for Tolerance since 1995. According to the day’s proclamation, its intended purpose is to “generate public awareness, emphasize the dangers of intolerance, and react with renewed commitment and action in support of tolerance, promotion and education”. The bi-annual UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize has been awarded since 1996 as part of the observance.

For further information regarding UNESCO, visit www.UNESCO.org.

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