The way to end conflicts and wars
International Human Solidarity Day is observed on December 20 every year. On December 20, 2002, the UN General Assembly established the World Solidarity Fund. The Fund was set up in February 2003 as a trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme. Its objective was to eradicate poverty and promote human and social development in developing countries, especially among the poorest segments of their populations.
On December 22, 2005, the UN General Assembly identified solidarity as a universal value and posited that it should underlie relations between peoples in the twenty-first century. In that regard, the UN proclaimed December 20th of each year International Human Solidarity Day. The date commemorates the establishment of the World Solidarity Fund.
The concept of solidarity is embedded in the work of the United Nations since the birth of the organization. The creation of the United Nations drew the peoples and nations of the world together to promote peace, human rights and social and economic development. The organization was founded on the basic premise of unity and harmony among its members, expressed in the concept of collective security that relies on the solidarity of its members to unite to maintain international peace and security. It is in the spirit of solidarity that the Organization relies on cooperation among the nations of the world in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character.
In a nutshell, International Human Solidarity Day is:
- a day to celebrate our unity in diversity;
- a day to remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements; a day to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity; a day to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals including poverty eradication; a day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty alleviation.
The purpose behind the observance of the day is to underline the need for unity among the peoples of the world. It’s also a day to raise awareness about the importance of human solidarity to maximize human welfare. Solidarity is defined as an awareness of shared ideals, interests and objectives that create a psychological sense of unity. Solidarity also refers to the ties in a society that bind people together for the achievement of common goals.
According to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, solidarity is among the fundamental values that are essential to well-balanced international relations. The declaration also states that global challenges must be managed in such a way that costs and burdens are distributed fairly. This is in accordance with the basic principles of equity and social justice. Additionally, solidarity means that those who are well off should help those who are deprived and distressed.
Needless to say, solidarity creates a spirit of sharing, which is essential for eradicating poverty and creating a just and equitable society. On this day, the UN encourages new initiatives for poverty eradication. The day serves as a reminder to governments to respect and fulfil their commitments to international agreements. Events are held all over the world to highlight the importance of solidarity. These events include presentations, seminars, conferences, and roundtable discussions. Many of these events also focus on how to combat poverty.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda is centred on people and planet, underpinned by human rights and supported by a global partnership determined to lift people out of poverty, hunger and disease. It will, thus, be built on a foundation of global cooperation and solidarity.
The concept of solidarity is based on cooperation and collectivism as opposed to individualism. It is clear that the social, political and economic problems facing the world cannot be solved if individuals and nations continue to focus only on their own narrow interests instead of the collective good.
Our experience of Covid-19 demonstrated the usefulness of collective action. The pandemic was overcome through combined global efforts undertaken by nations around the world with regard to access to food, medicine and health care.
World Solidarity Day also draws attention to the continuing scourge of wars and conflicts that impinges on human welfare. The war in Ukraine and unresolved conflicts in other parts of the world show how the pursuit of nationalistic interests causes mass misery, homelessness, death and destruction. This underlines the need for a collective approach to promote the concept of human solidarity to achieve peace and harmony. Above all, solidarity means peaceful coexistence which is essential for human survival on planet earth.