The United Nations(UN)’s International Human Solidarity Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th December to create awareness about the importance of solidarity, a socio-ethical and political concept, which states that it is fair and just that benefits and obligations are shared between members of society.
- The day commemorates the establishment of the World Solidarity Fund on 20th December 2002.
Purpose of International Human Solidarity Day:
- To celebrate unity in diversity.
- To remind the government to respect their commitment to international agreements.
- To raise public awareness on the importance of solidarity.
- To encourage the debate on the ways to promote solidarity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) including poverty eradication.
- To encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/60/209 on 22nd December 2005 and proclaimed the 20th December of every year as the International Human Solidarity Day.
ii.The resolution also identified solidarity as one of the fundamental and universal values that should underlie the relations between people in the 21st century.
iii.The first ever International Human Solidarity Day was observed on 20th December 2006.
UN and Solidarity
World Solidarity Fund:
i.On 20th December 2002, the UNGA adopted resolution 57/265 and established the World Solidarity Fund.
ii.The fund was set up in February 2003, as a trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP).
Objective: to eradicate poverty and promote human and social development in developing countries (especially in the poorest segments of the population).
Millennium Declaration:
According to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, solidarity is one of the six fundamental values that are essential to international relations for the 21st century.
Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity:
i.The mandate of the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity was created in 2005.
ii.The independent expert on human rights and international solidarity was appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council(HRC) to develop a draft declaration on the right of people and individuals to international solidarity.
Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity- Professor Obiora C. Okafor(Nigeria).
About Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (UN Human Rights):
High Commissioner– Michelle Bachelet Jeria
President of Human Rights Council(HRC)– Nazhat Shameem Khan
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
