Sharing the human spirit through friendship
Our world faces many challenges, crises and forces of division — such as poverty, violence, and human rights abuses — among many others — that undermine peace, security, development and social harmony among the world’s peoples. To confront these and their root causes we can do our bit by promoting and defending a shared spirit of human solidarity that takes many forms — the simplest of which is friendship. Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.
The International Day of Friendship (30th July) was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. The resolution places emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity. And it is an initiative that follows on the proposal made by UNESCO defining the Culture of Peace. Crises and challenges addressed through a shared spirit of friendship can be translated to develop supportive and collaborative workplaces.
Actions all of us can take to promote a Culture of Peace:
- Foster a culture of peace through education;
- Promote sustainable economic and social development;
- Promote respect for all human rights;
- Ensure equality between women and men;
- Foster democratic participation;
- Advance understanding, tolerance and solidarity;
- Support participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge;
- Promote international peace and security.