World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2016

21 May

South Africa joins the world in celebrating World Day for Cultural Diversity on 21 May. The day has been celebrated since 2001, when UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.

On 21 May, the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) calls on you to observe the day by:

  • Inviting people from different cultures, religions and language communities to share your customs.
  • Undertaking a visit to a place of worship or museum different to yours and participate in the celebration and
  • Learning about traditional celebrations from other cultures.

The day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better.

In 2011, a grassroots campaign ‘Do One Thing For Diversity and Inclusion’, celebrating the annual World Day for Cultural Diversity was launched by UNESCO and the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

By encouraging people and organizations from around the world to take concrete action to support diversity, the campaign aims:

  • To raise awareness worldwide about the importance of intercultural dialogue, diversity and inclusion.
  • To build a world community of individuals committed to support diversity with real and every day-life gestures.
  • To combat polarization and stereotypes to improve understanding and cooperation among people from different cultures.

 

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