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By Ariana Siu

International Human Solidarity Day was created to celebrate the world’s growing diversity. On December 22, 2005, the United Nations General Assembly identified solidarity as one of the “fundamental and universal values that should underlie relations between peoples” and declared December 20 of each year International Human Solidarity Day. It is a day when all borders and differences are forgotten and everyone unites to acknowledge global respect and cooperation. On this day, social issues such as destitution, hunger, human rights and racism are brought into the spotlight and discussed by activists around the world. 

According to the United Nations, International Human Solidarity Day focuses on: 

  • celebrating diversity
  • reminding governments to respect their commitments to international agreements
  • raising public awareness in global solidarity;
  • encouraging debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 
  • taking action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication

The promotion of solidarity and generosity is believed to be key to suppressing poverty. The World Solidarity Fund of the United Nations Development Program was launched to target poverty and development in developing countries. It is an initiative to establish greater equality and awareness among communities. 

This day can be seen as an umbrella activist movement for all issues on poverty and any event that concerns human rights. In support, one may choose to volunteer at a homeless shelter, participate in a public assembly on food insecurity or donate to organizations whose mission is to eradicate hunger and disease. As the world unites and takes each step together as a team, we carry hope in our hearts that the world would reach a state of peace, equality and joy in the foreseeable future. Together, we fight for the dignity of all people. 

Works Cited

United Nations Development Programme: Home, https://www.undp.org/. Accessed 18 December 2022.

Ahmed, Sadek. “International Human Solidarity Day | United Nations.” the United Nations, 20 December 2021, https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-solidarity-day. Accessed 18 December 2022.

“World Solidarity Fund.” United Nations Digital Library, https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/505924?ln=en. Accessed 18 December 2022.