Advancing Respect for Diversity and Strengthening the Foundations of Shared Understanding

On November 16, the United Nations commemorates the International Day for Tolerance, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1996. At a time when mistrust, polarisation and targeted misinformation strain relations within and between societies, this observance calls on states, educators, media and civil society to strengthen learning, law and public life in a way that allows people with different convictions and histories to coexist peacefully. It also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular quality education, reduced inequalities and more inclusive public institutions.

On this day, the Universal Peace Federation recalls that its founders, Dr. Hak Ja Han and late Dr. Sun Myung Moon, described diversity in culture, language, and belief as a resource for shared progress. They explained tolerance as respectful engagement with human differences, recognizing their worth rather than fearing them. UPF founders taught that God intended human culture to unfold in diversity, with differences creating contrasts and relationships that reveal beauty and goodness. This emphasis on diversity, expressed in messages from interreligious dialogues of the 1980s, informs guidance on creation's purpose and human civilization's development. They taught that caring for individuals' inner and outer dimensions is essential for social progress, beginning when people see one another as members of one human family under God. This conviction underlies UPF principles emphasizing the family's role, a life oriented toward others' wellbeing and leaders' responsibility to build frameworks for intertraditional meetings; it resonates with the UN message that communities flourish by accepting a common destiny and acting in solidarity.

Across the world, UPF chapters and partners have implemented programs highlighting tolerance and respect for diversity. In Asia, UPF-Nepal commemorated the UN International Day for Tolerance with an Ambassadors for Peace seminar in Kathmandu on 4 November 2022, drawing about 100 participants from various sectors. In Africa, a special convocation in Abuja, Nigeria marked the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on 23 May 2014, bringing together diplomats, educators and civil society leaders at the Yar’adua International Conference Center to celebrate harmonious coexistence. In Europe, UPF-Norway hosted a “Nordic Seminar” in Oslo on 12 November 2022 – uniting participants of 15 nationalities under the theme “Principles of Peace” – to observe the International Day for Tolerance and promote greater intercultural understanding.

In the Americas, UPF’s Interreligious Association for Peace and Development held a regional webinar on 10 December 2022 emphasizing the need to uphold freedom of belief and “strongly oppose all forms of intolerance,” while urging communities to “embrace the diversity” of backgrounds as a foundation for peace. In Oceania, UPF-Oceania organized a “Peace Road and Multicultural Peace Festival” in Sydney, Australia on 28 September 2025, which celebrated cultural diversity and unity – featuring a peace walkathon and vibrant performances by Vietnamese, Nepalese, Russian, Filipino, Mongolian, Chinese, and Korean community groups, all embodying the spirit of “unity in diversity”. Each of these initiatives shows how UPF-affiliated programs foster tolerance and mutual respect across religious, ethnic, and cultural lines, in every corner of the globe. 

These efforts align with UN programs promoting respect and understanding, including UNESCO’s Global Citizenship Education, the UN Alliance of Civilizations’ intercultural dialogue, the UN Plan of Action to Combat Hate Speech, and SDGs 4.7 and 16 under the 2030 Agenda.

On this International Day for Tolerance, UPF calls its Ambassadors for Peace, officials, educators, media professionals, and youth leaders to deepen cultural learning, protect spaces for honest dialogue, and anchor policies in coexistence. In pursuing the 2030 Agenda, this commitment transforms differences into a foundation for security and stability.

Dr. Tageldin Hamad
President, Universal Peace Federation