Every year on 16 November, the international community celebrates the International Day for Tolerance. The rich diversity of global cultures, forms of expression, religions, gender identity and other various ways of being human make us unique citizens of the world. Acquiring and maintaining the skills and values of tolerance helps individuals, communities, and nations respect the multicultural facets of humanity and uphold the values of peace and diversity.
The United Nations is committed to strengthening tolerance by fostering mutual understanding among cultures and peoples. This imperative lies at the core of the United Nations Charter as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is more important than ever in this era of rising and violent extremism and widening conflicts that are characterized by a fundamental disregard for human life. The acts of intolerance often breed-violence, terrorism, xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, marginalization and exclusion. As a result of these acts, vulnerable groups such as ethnic minorities, refugees, migrant workers, immigrants, women, those with disabilities and youth are further disenfranchised. The ultimate price is a global discontent marred by conflicts and violence and their tangible consequence on efforts geared towards sustaining peace at the national, regional and international levels.
Since every part of the world is characterized by diversity, escalating intolerance and strife potentially menaces every region and culture. In an age marked by globalization characterized by rapid mobility, large-scale migrations and displacement of populations have become a result of the drastic changing social patterns. The need for greater tolerance has become a cherished principle as societies integrate and become more inter-dependent. An interview with Andreas Tzekas, a long-term member of the National Scout Association of Greece, highlights how his organization uses the skills of tolerance in their daily lives to help “build bridges” and facilitate mutual understanding between refugees or migrants and the local natives. Andreas Tzekas emphasizes the nexus of tolerance and peace as precursors to global progress and development.
Question: In your opinion how can young people engage in active positive behaviour in their daily lives towards tolerance?
Andreas Tzekas: In scouting we have this amazing practice of asking young people to do one good turn per day. Something as simple as that- the small things that we do in our daily lives- can make a difference. Moreover, young people should not just wait passively to show solidarity or kindness to fellow strangers; they should be the ones creating opportunities to do so by themselves. For example, at the National Scout Association in Greece, when we first heard of the news of refugees arriving in our cities and shores of our islands, we felt compelled to travel there and offer all the help we could to the refugees (and which we did).
Question: What skills can people adopt to build a culture of tolerance and in the process promote peace and development?
Andreas Tzekas: I think education is crucial as a first step to enable people to understand the importance of differences outside of their society and economy. Appreciating different people from different backgrounds outside your own can not only help one to grow at an individual level, but can also help to advance the economy. With education, the society becomes more open and tolerant. For young people, one way of education is to promote intercultural exchanges in schools and in communities.
In all of the above we should keep in mind that young people are multipliers of change inside their respective societies. They are the most capable of building the lost "bridges” and creating the link that was lost between the different cultures and societies that have to live together and accept each other. I believe that involving young people in the process is very important to guarantee the success and impact of such initiatives.
Question: How can vulnerable groups in society such as refugees, women, children and minorities be protected against acts of intolerance?
Andreas Tzekas: In my country, Greece, we try various ways to tackle violence which include formal ways like advocating and drafting laws to protect the vulnerable. For refugees and migrants, we currrently have a project, ”Time to be Welcome,” in partnership with volunteers from all over Europe. The main focus is to work together with teams of refugees and local people in Athens to co-organize workshops along themes related to such issues mainly in areas affected by the refugee crisis. We believe that the skills acquired can be transferred to other members of their families and friends and in the process facilitate greater inclusion and tolerance with each other.
Question: What are some of the impacts of intolerance and what do you think are their solutions?
Andreas Tzekas: Scouting aims to educate members of society to be global citizens and to be ready for positive change. We also try to intercede the stereotypes and negative images of others that perpetuate intolerance, whether it be on social media or stories in the press. We believe that behind every story, there is a human aspect which can be realised by directly engaging with the local community and creating constructive bonds with affected people. This I believe is one solution to building tolerance. I learnt this two years ago as a Scout, while visiting refugee camps on the island of Kos and other refugee camps on the Greek mainland.
Question: As a young person, what drives you to aspire to contribute to principles of tolerance, peace and sustainability?
Andreas Tzekas:It is important to be authentic and passionate in what you are doing. I advise youth to always be curious and to be proactive in helping people in need. I believe that building tolerance starts first from believing that you can bring about change, regardless of where you are. Everyone can have an impact and by focusing on our passions, youth can contribute to making the world more tolerant, which is vital for peace and sustainability. We are young so we should believe big, dream big, and push for change. In my country Greece, young people through the Scouts movement have done an amazing work by helping others build and maintain principles of tolerance. I believe that in the process, this has made a lasting impact in society, towards peace and sustainability.
About Andreas Tzekas:
Andreas Tzekas is currently studying Finance in Thessaloniki, Greece. He believes that some of the valuable lessons and experiences in his life have been offered through Scouting, the movement that he has been a member of since he was 6 years old. After the refugee crises in Greece, Andreas engaged in mitigation efforts through his National Scout Association around the country. On one occasion, he spent 3 days on the Greek island of Kos, where he offered support to both refugee adults and children- an experience he says was lifechanging. His support continued in other refugee camps beginning in his hometown Larisa and Thessaloniki where he helped authorities deliver food and other necessities to people in need. Andreas continues to be actively involved in the Scouts movement around the world. Amongst his achievements include organising the first TEDx event at his local University, working as an intern for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and being a youth representative for Greece at the European Youth Forum.
ILO Calls for Global Action to Boost Youth Employment in North Africa
The International Labour Organization (ILO) hosted a two day High-Level Conference on Youth and Employment in North Africa. With a youth unemployment rate of 28.8 per cent in the region, ILO warned that countries needed to adopt a more concerted global response to tackle the youth employment crisis. In this quest, ILO Deputy Director-General for Policy, Ms. Deborah Greenfield, stressed that "To fill the youth employment gap in the North African region, we call on social partners, governments, workers and employer organizations, to come together with development partners and renew their commitment and action on youth employment”. North Africa is affected by unsustainable levels of youth unemployment and poor economic participation. Only 16.6 percent young women and 46.8 per cent of young men are economically active in the region. More.
ILO Highlights Massive Decent Work Deficit for Youth in Latin America and the Caribbean
Over 50 million young people in Latin America and the Caribbean face a labour market characterized by unemployment, informality and a lack of opportunities. These major challenges were highlighted at an ILO meeting in Buenos Aires as a preparation for the IV Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication of Child Labour, to be held on the 14 to 16 November 2017. While the conference will share knowledge and good practices towards the elimination of child labour, it is also anticipated to discuss and analyze the challenges of generating quality employment for youth in the region as a way to counter the “massive decent work deficit”. More.
ILO and Spain Join Forces to Promote Decent Jobs or Youth
On the occasion of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Fátima Báñez, the Minister of Employment and Social Security of Spain, committed her country’s support for the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth , the first ever United Nations system-wide effort for the promotion of youth employment. The Minister and ILO Director-General Guy Ryder, signed a technical cooperation agreement to enhance youth employment action around the globe. The agreement reinforces Spain’s leading role in promoting youth employment and its commitment to decent work for all, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. More.
UN Agencies Join Forces to Promote Youth Employment in Cambodia
The Royal Government of Cambodia and five UN agencies and programmes- International Labour Office (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV)- with the support from the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) initiated a new joint programme to promote youth employment and reduce inequalities in the country. Launched under the aegis of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, the programme assists the Royal Government of Cambodia in the implementation of national policies, including the National Employment Policy. The joint programme will facilitate young people’s entrance into the labour force while reducing inequalities particularly for the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, and ensuring that young women and men are better able to meet the labour demand. More.
UNV: Exchange Programme of the Myanmar Disaster Risk Reduction Youth Volunteer (DRRYV) Network
The United Nations Volunteers, (UNV), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, implemented the exchange programme of the Myanmar Disaster Risk Reduction Youth Volunteer (DRRYV) network. The network aims to strengthen community resilience for disasters in the regions of Rakhine, Mon and Ayeyarwaddy in Myanmar through skilled and equipped disaster risk reduction youth volunteers. In November 2017, the exchange programme will bring together DRRYVs from the three pilot areas to share local knowledge on risk management and experiences in supporting their communities through DRR learning, drills and awareness raising. More.
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) deployed 36 UN Volunteers to support the World Festival of Youth and Students (WFYS) from 14 to 21 October 2017. Held in Sochi, Russia, the WFYS is the largest event of its kind that is devoted to international youth cooperation for the promotion of justice, international relations and the fostering of inter-ethnic and intercultural relations. UN Volunteers from different backgrounds and geographical regions joined the festival to promote peace and development and advocate for volunteerism to tackle the most pressing challenges that youth face today. In attendance were 20 000 young people from 150 countries, including representatives from NGOs, young journalists, creative and athletic youth, young designer engineers, leaders of youth organizations and other relevant stakeholders. The valuable stories shared brought passion, energy and ideas to the youth agenda. More.
On 9 November, PLURAL+ 2017 will celebrate 27 winning videos from the 320 entries received from all around the world. The awards ceremony will be held at the United Nations Headquarters. PLURAL+ is a Youth Video Festival on migration, diversity and social inclusion. Organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with a network of partners, PLURAL+ supports the global multiplatform outreach and distribution of youth-produced videos on urgent topics. Winners includes entries from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Finland, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Syria, Turkey, UK and USA. To RSVP and join in the celebration, register here. Deadline for registration is 3 November 2017.
UNEP: Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum in Nairobi, Kenya
The UN Environment (UNEP) in partnership with the Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum will organize the 17th Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum to be held from 27 to 28 November 2017. The event will facilitate the preparations of major groups and stakeholders, including children and youth towards the 2017 Environment Assembly, which is the highest-level decision making body on the environment. The 2017 assembly will be held under the overarching theme “towards a pollution-free planet”. This will be an opportunity to contribute ideas towards a clean planet and to network with other representatives from the youth and children major group, civil society, international organizations and Member State representatives. Furthermore, the partnership will foster a multi-stakeholder discussion on global environmental policy and build partnerships and tangible commitments in the process. More.
UNESCO/Azhar/LAS Youth Workshop: “Together to Prevent Extremism and Promote Dialogue”
UNESCO Cairo Office in cooperation with the League of Arab States, Al-Azhar Center for Dialogue, and the World Organization for Al-Azhar Graduates is organizing a youth workshop entitled “Together to Prevent Extremism and Promote Dialogue” to be held in Cairo, from 19 to 20 November 2017. Participants will include Arab and non-Arab youth representatives and topics will cover themes around preventing extremism and promoting dialogue. Specifically, some topics planned for discussion are “The wrong use of religious texts to legitimize violence”, “Factors driving extremism among youth” and “Dialogue as a means to defuse extremism”. More.
UNESCO: Emerging Youth: “Strengthening Sub-Regional Cooperation and Promoting Young Talents in the African Music Sector”
UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD), which is the operational instrument of the 2005 Convention for the protection and the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, financed a project, “The Emerging Youth: Strengthening sub-regional cooperation and promoting young talents in the African music sector” to empower youth from Chad and the surrounding region through the strengthening of their musical creativity, technical skills, while also fostering cooperation through network-building activities. The project contributed to the promotion of the role of culture as a driver and enabler for development. More.
UNESCO: Promoting Young People’s Participation in the Book and Music Industries in Mexico
UNESCO's International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD), financed a project to empower 600 people working in the Mexican book and music industries, by developing and strengthening their creative and entrepreneurial skills. Through this initiative, that was implemented in partnership with the NGO, Germinalia, the IFCD helped to demonstrate how cultural and creative industries can act as a lever for development. The project targeted 500 young people and 100 adults for capacity building in cultural, creative and entrepreneurial skills. Learn more about the project here.
UNESCO: Rethinking Youth Engagement with UNESCO at the 10th UNESCO Youth Forum
The UNESCO Youth Forum brought together 65 exceptional young leaders from all over the world to its Headquarters in Paris on 25 to 26 October 2017. The young men and women participated in the 10th anniversary of the Youth Forum and had a voice at the global discussion table. A new pilot version focused on ‘Rethinking Youth Engagement with UNESCO’ - an internal look at how the organization could further improve its engagement with youth. The other objective was to explore ways to treat youth as actors and partners, and not just as beneficiaries of the organization’s work. For more similar opportunities, join the UNESCO Youth Community on social media here and get involved. More .
UN Habitat: Youth and Urbanization – “Youth Innovation is the Clean Fuel to Light Up World Cities”
UN-Habitat through its Youth and Livelihoods Unit had been hosting youth activities across the world to promote the concept of Urban October. One of the key projects was the implementation of a project dubbed the “Innovative Counties Challenge,”aiming to build youth inclusion in local governance in small and medium sized cities. UN-Habitat recognizes that cities are not only places where development happens, but also a platform where youth meet to bring their minds together and share their vast experiences to engineer strategic solutions for development to happen. UN Habitat believes that cities can generate more wealth by utilizing youth intelligence and sufficiently attract, available and sustainable innovative solutions from youth. UN Habitat also encourages governments, institutions and persons in power to involve youth in shaping the new urban agenda as well as identifying sustainable urbanization as a priority. More.
UNODC Promotes Sport as Tool for Peace on Kyrgyz-Tajik border
Situated in the southern Batken province of Kyrgyzstan, the municipality of Kulundu sits on the border with Tajikistan in Central Asia. Home to around 25,000 people, the residents in this remote rural area mostly earn their living by engaging in agriculture and cross-border trade. With limited employment opportunities, young people often face a range of challenges. Within this context, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is working to use sport as a vehicle to promote tolerance, respect and garner valuable life skills among youth. In order to support this context, a new football field that were provided as part of a UNODC project opened in Kulundu on 28 September 2017. More.
Youth in Action
AFS Contest for Students Who Want to Change the World!
The American Field Service (AFS) is offering an international exchange program in more than 40 countries. AFS project Change is an educational curriculum and contest that prompts 8 to 12 graders to analyze and address global issues through volunteerism. Students are invited to develop an original volunteer project idea that addresses the question “What change would you make in the world?” Participants present their ideas for volunteer projects that could have meaningful impacts abroad in the areas such as education, sustainability, hunger and nutrition, arts and technology, human rights and cultural understanding. Interested candidates can win a full scholarship to go abroad for 10 to 15 days. All students residing in the United States are eligible to apply. Deadline for applications is 18 December 2017. Watch video here.
Publications
ILO: Promoting Women’s Empowerment in MENA: A Rapid Evidence Assessment of Labour Market Interventions
The ILO Taqeem Impact Brief Series provides an overview of the existing evidence on “what works” in promoting gender equality by presenting results from a rapid evidence assessment analyses of Active Labour Market Programmes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The Taqeem Initiative is a partnership between ILO and IFAD as part of an IFAD-financed project, titled “Strengthening gender monitoring and evaluation in rural employment in the Near East and North Africa.” The brief highlighted the need for rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of labour market programmes in the MENA region, with a special emphasis on gender outcomes which are currently scarce but needed to measure gender equality in the region. More .
