GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HONOURS GLOBAL PEACE, TOLERANCE AWARD WINNERS

Press Release
GA/SM/126

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HONOURS GLOBAL PEACE, TOLERANCE AWARD WINNERS

Following is the statement by the President of the General Assembly, Theo-Ben Gurirab (Namibia) at a luncheon for honourees of the 1999 Global Peace and Tolerance Lifetime Achievement Awards, delivered in his absence today by the Permanent Representative of Seychelles, Claude Morel:

It is a very special pleasure for me to be here this afternoon and to welcome you to the United Nations and to this commemoration of the International Day for Tolerance 1999, on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, Theo-Ben Gurirab, who unfortunately is unable to join us today because of travel commitments.

Let me say, at the outset, how grateful we are that today’s programme was an initiative by civil society, and for this let me commend the Friends of the United Nations, the DACAPO Foundation and Children Uniting Nations, for their support in carrying forward goals and objectives of the United Nations plan of action for global tolerance, adopted by the General Assembly.

As you know, the United Nations is an intergovernmental Organization, but our mission is service to humanity -– to advance the quality of life and well-being of peoples in a world at peace with itself and in accordance with the vision of our Charter. What better allies can we conceive in fulfilling our mandate than the non- governmental community, you “We the Peoples”, especially if we are to give the proper scope and meaning to the values of the Charter and, more directly, if we are to advance the principle that “we practice tolerance and live together with one another in peace, as good neighbours”.

Such an alliance between Governments and people could become a new and powerful global force in helping the United Nations to fulfil its mission and empower us to move forward with confidence into a complex and challenging twenty-first century. The logic of such an assertion becomes even more self-evident when we consider that all the issues currently before the United Nations are essentially people-driven issues. Whether it be poverty, peace, environmental sustainability, human rights or civil conflicts, people are often central to the problem and their solutions. Moreover, many of the conflicts sweeping the world are bred either by inequity or intolerance and sometimes intolerance born of an inequity.

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And so today, more than ever, there are compelling reasons for us to give the question of tolerance a much higher priority on humanity’s political and social agenda. In the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance, adopted by the fiftieth General Assembly, Governments themselves acknowledged that “in the modern world, tolerance is more essential than ever before. It is an age marked by the globalization of the economy, by rapidly increasing mobility, communication, integration and interdependence, large-scale migration and displacement of populations, urbanization and changing social patterns. Since every part of the world is characterized by diversity, escalating intolerance and strife potentially menace every region. It is not confined to any country, but is a global threat”.

In his Tolerance Day message to the world last year, delivered from this very podium, the Secretary-General reminded all of us that “without question, the conflicts of the post-cold-war world -– from Bosnia to Rwanda –- were all rooted in the absence of tolerance and the demonization of groups and ethnicities”. He went on to add: “No union of nations, no assembly of people and no community can thrive without tolerance. Without that basic respect between human beings, man is doomed to a bitter fate, and the United Nations –- as an idea and a reality –- will never fulfil its destiny”.

The solutions do not lie in peacekeeping alone or greater application of military force, but in building and strengthening that peace, which begins in the minds of men and women and which can only be nurtured by the acceptance of Universal Human Rights and by the proper values of respect for diversity, affection for each other and tolerance.

This, in turn, presents special challenges to leaders and educators in all sectors of society. Such leaders need encouragement and support of peoples everywhere and that is why we are pleased to join you today in honouring those whose dedication, leadership and exemplary work have significantly advanced the cause of tolerance. We are especially pleased that you’ve chosen to honour those who educate and advocate ethical behaviour, promote tolerance and protect our children.

We are pleased to know that you have wisely chosen to recognize and honour our youth, who in their respective spheres of life, whether it be the arts, technology, media or music, have demonstrated yet again that individuals can make a difference and that the creative energies and talents of our youth offers our best prospect for a positive human future.

They are the true heroes of the future and they must be encouraged and supported by us at the United Nations. Today, during this final General Assembly of the 20th century, a small step has been taken in this direction, and with your cooperation and support more will follow. Perhaps one day this great house of nations will yet

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become “A House of Heroes” for ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things.

Until that day, ladies and gentlemen, and despite the bleakness of the political landscape and prevailing social inequities, there is reason to hope, to celebrate and to cultivate that spirit of tolerance, which will make for a more peaceful and harmonious world, in keeping with the vision of the United Nations Charter.

We commend you and wish you a happy Tolerance Day.

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