Every year on May 21 we observe World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, also known as Diversity Day. It is a day dedicated to appreciating the cultural differences between nations, states, and individuals. This day is significant because three-quarters of the world’s main conflicts involve a cultural element. This is a substantial portion of the pie that relates to culture. This has prompted the United Nations and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to work towards achieving one of their primary goals — bringing harmony to the world — by combating this issue.
The background of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
According to the United Nations, three-quarters of global conflicts have a cultural component. Since the beginning of time, people have tended to prefer what they are accustomed to over adopting or tolerating something foreign. Achieving 100 percent tolerance of cultural diversity would necessitate the education and intervention of all individuals, despite the fact that there have been some successful interventions against this problem over the years.
In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, which acknowledged the need to “enhance the potential of culture as a means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development, and global peaceful coexistence.” In its resolution 57/249 adopted in December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly designated May 21 as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. In 2015, the Second Committee of the U.N. General Assembly adopted the resolution on Culture and Sustainable Development to further contribute to cultural diversity, as it stated that sustainable development can be achieved most effectively by leveraging the creative potential of the world’s diverse cultures and engaging in a continuous dialogue to ensure that all members of society benefit from it.
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of cultural diversity, to promote it, and to emphasise its significance as an agent of positive change. Accepting each other’s differences is one of the most significant methods to promote peace between individuals, nations, and the global community as a whole.
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2023: Date, History, Facts about H.I.V and AIDS
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities
Emergency Medical Services Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Emergency Care
5 CULTURE-RICH SITES YOU SHOULD KNOW
This ancient city of Incas cascades was inhabited between the 15th and 16th centuries and is regarded as one of the most breathtaking archaeological sites.
These structures were constructed over 2,600 years ago as tombs for Pharaohs.
This site is renowned for having the greatest concentration of Buddhist temples in the world, many of which were constructed between the years 1000 and 1100.
Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure in the world and was constructed by the Khmers in the 12th century.
This nearly 6,000-kilometer-long culturally wealthy site was constructed in the seventh century B.C.
WORLD DAY FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY FOR DIALOGUE AND DEVELOPMENT DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 21 | Sunday |
| 2024 | May 21 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | May 21 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | May 21 | Thursday |
| 2027 | May 21 | Friday |