#FightRacism: 'International Day of Peace' (21 September)
Malala Yousafzai, Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall and Paulo Coelho have a common string connecting them - They are 'United Nations Messengers of Peace'. Amongst many others, they uphold the need for peace, which is of great urgency today.
(With inputs from
official United Nations announcements and website)
The date of September 21 is annually observed as
International Day of Peace. Achieving true peace entails much more than laying
down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that
they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated
equally, regardless of their race.
United Nations Messengers of Peace in 2022
are:
Princess Haya, Daniel Barenboim, Paulo Coelho, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael
Douglas, Jane Goodall, Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Midori, Edward Norton, Charlize
Theron, Stevie Wonder, Malala Yousafzai.
Backed by the highest honour bestowed by the
Secretary-General on a global citizen, these prominent personalities volunteer
their time, talent and passion to raise awareness of United Nations efforts to
improve the lives of billions of people everywhere. To spread the clear message
of peace, one must stop racism. Spreading the word forward are United Nations
Messengers of Peace, who are distinguished individuals. Carefully selected from
the fields of art, literature, science, entertainment, sports or other fields
of public life, who have agreed to help focus worldwide attention on the work
of the United Nations.
END RACISM. BUILD PEACE:
As conflicts continue to erupt across the globe, causing people to flee, there
have been documented examples of race-based discrimination at borders.
Globally, it has been observed how certain racial groups could have been hit
much harder than others during the Covid-19 spread. This leads to the suffering of
economies. It is essential to understand - We all have a role to play in
fostering peace. And tackling racism is a crucial way to contribute.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said:
“Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life
in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it
continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes
societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and…
the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”
We can work to dismantle the structures that entrench
racism in our midst. We can support movements for equality and human rights
everywhere. We can speak out against hate speech – both offline and online. We
can promote anti-racism through education and reparatory justice.
WE CAN HEAL THE WORLD:
Create an environment of acceptance and celebration. There are many ways to
make classrooms and other learning environments a place of acceptance and
celebration. Recognizing that interpersonal styles can be driven by culture, as
well as personality, is key.
For better understanding and greater acceptance,
educators are encouraged to introduce as much cultural diversity as possible
into the curriculum. If and when there is conflict, deal with it; do not
dismiss it. Seize this as an opportunity to raise awareness and celebrate
diversity. Introduce as much cultural diversity as possible into the
curriculum.
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