It came about as a result of a decision by the General Assembly in December 1996, following a year-long discussion and activities that took place during the United Nations Year for Tolerance. It is also an indication of a broad-based understanding by the international community that the hopes for the beginning of a new era of tolerance following the end of the cold war have not yet become fully realized. Unfortunately, extremism, discrimination and blunt disrespect for human dignity continue to be a widespread phenomenon in our lives. These evils are cross-cultural. They do not recognize international borders and this is precisely why the United Nations system as a whole should play a more significant role in strengthening the overall international network to deal effectively with the promotion of the concept and culture of tolerance.
Tolerance is the foundation of peace and security and is the bedrock of civil society.
But we should never forget that responsibility for tolerance rests with all of us. Let us, then, use the observance of the International Day of Tolerance to reaffirm our faith in this noble idea and to invigorate our joint action in cultivating the culture of tolerance. Let us make sure that tolerance and peace become the dominant features of the next century.