May 16th marks the International Day of Living Together in Peace, which aims at promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, language, or religion.
The day is observed annually on this date every year across the two spheres, with the aim of encouraging people to live together in harmony and peace.
The day aims to uphold the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity, and harmony.
Living together in peace is all about accepting differences and having the ability to listen to, recognize, respect, and appreciate others, as well as living in a peaceful and united way, according to the UN.
The story behind the day goes back to 2017, when the UN General Assembly declared “May 16th” as the International Day of Living Together in Peace, to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding, and solidarity.
The Day invites countries and international institutions to further promote reconciliation to help to ensure peace and sustainable development, including by working with communities, faith leaders and other relevant actors, through reconciliatory measures and acts of service and by encouraging forgiveness and compassion among individuals.
It’s worth mentioning that the first International Day of Living Together in Peace was observed in 2018.
