UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres marked the first International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations with a powerful call for global solidarity, emphasizing dialogue as the antidote to rising intolerance and division. 🌐✨
"Dialogue is not optional; it is essential for building bridges of understanding and trust," Guterres declared at a UN event co-organized by China, Egypt, Peru, Spain, Uzbekistan, and the UN Alliance of Civilizations. He warned that ignorance and xenophobia thrive where dialogue is absent, urging nations to "answer hate with humanity."
The International Day, established by a UN resolution proposed by China and backed by over 80 countries, celebrates cultural diversity as a force for peace. Guterres framed the day as a rallying cry: "Let’s choose dialogue over division and strive to be one human family."
UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang echoed the sentiment, highlighting Earth’s 8 billion people, 5,000 ethnic groups, and 7,000 languages as proof of humanity’s "rich diversity." He stressed that mutual respect is key to progress, adding, "Let’s promote tolerance and inclusiveness for a better world."
With online hate speech and misinformation on the rise, the UN’s message resonates for young people navigating a fractured digital world. As Guterres put it: "Our differences are our strength—if we listen." 💬🌍
