"I strongly support the effort of the United Religions Initiative in promoting the Golden Rule by celebrating April 5th as Golden Rule Day to create more public awareness in the world on the need to spread the message about and teaching the Golden Rule."
(Photo via Wikicommons images, by MONUSCO/Biliaminou Alao)
Read a message for the celebration of the Golden Rule Day from H.E. Adama Dieng, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide:
On the occasion of the celebration of the Golden Rule Day, I am joining members of the United Religions Initiative in 109 countries to stress the importance of the Golden Rule - “Treat others the way you want to be treated”. This is a fundamental moral principle and commonly shared value which unites all religions, traditions, indigenous cultures and secular philosophies.
The Golden Rule is the pathway for peaceful co-existence, interfaith and intercultural harmony, and the respect for human dignity. It contributes to building peaceful, inclusive and just societies; and prevents violence and violent extremism and their incitement.
It helps us respect cultural and religious traditions; uphold international human rights standards and norms; and respect and promote the sacred wisdom of each religion, spiritual expression and indigenous tradition.
The basic teaching of the Golden Rule resonates with the mandate of United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, which is working to advance national and international efforts to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, including their incitement. It also resonates with the Plan of Action for Religious Leaders and Actors to Prevent Incitement to Violence which Could Lead to Atrocity Crimes, which my office helped develop.
The Plan of Action, which was launched by the United Nations Secretary-General at an event in New York on 14 July 2017, is a pioneering document, as it is the first to engage religious leaders and actors to develop context-specific strategies to prevent incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes. Its implementation can contribute to the prevention of atrocity crimes, especially in areas affected by religious and sectarian tensions and violence. It can also contribute to building just, peaceful and inclusive societies in which diversity is valued and the rights of all individuals are respected. The Secretary-General called for its widest possible dissemination and implementation.
My office has signed a memorandum of understanding and is working closely with United Religions Initiative (URI) as we highly value the work of this organization in promoting enduring interfaith cooperation to end religiously motivated violence and foster a culture of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.
In this context, I want to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the effort of Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Director of Global Partnership and Representative of United Religions Initiative (URI) to the African Union and United Nations, for pioneering the Golden Rule Day in 2007 and for his tireless efforts throughout the years in promoting interfaith and intercultural harmony, a culture of peace and human dignity.
I would like to conclude by stressing out that respecting the Golden Rule can contribute to UN efforts to advance peaceful co-existence, which is essential to personal growth, community building, and the very survival of our planet.
Therefore, it is a time to promote the teaching of the Golden Rule globally to ensure peaceful, inclusive and just societies where no one is left behind
I strongly support the effort of the United Religions Initiative in promoting the Golden Rule by celebrating April 5th as Golden Rule Day to create more public awareness in the world on the need to spread the message about and teaching the Golden Rule.
H.E. Adama Dieng,
United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide