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International Human Solidarity Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2005 as an initiative in the fight against poverty. (A/RES/60/209)

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 Millennium Development Goals including poverty eradication

A day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication


Background

In the Millennium Declaration world leaders identified Solidarity as one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and emphasized that “Global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes the costs and burdens fairly in accordance with basic principles of equity and social justice. Those who suffer or who benefit least deserve help from those who benefit most.” In the context of globalization and the challenge of growing inequality, the strengthening of international solidarity and cooperation is indispensable for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals.

Convinced that the promotion of the culture of solidarity and the spirit of sharing was important for combating poverty, the General Assembly proclaimed 20 December as International Human Solidarity Day.


Solidarity Quotes

“In our interconnected world, the human family cannot enjoy security without development, cannot enjoy development without security, and cannot enjoy either without respect for human rights…to act on that understanding, we need a strong United Nations, and true solidarity among governments and peoples working together to fulfill those goals.”

“Solidarity remains a crucial pillar of international cooperation. As markets expand and deepen, we have an opportunity to give new meaning to solidarity by enlisting new allies. Preparing the ground for investment and growth while at the same time forging new alliances may unlock the potential to successful development. At the same time, we have to rebuild the moral foundation and purpose of solidarity…Our duty is to new our efforts to make the case for solidarity; to strengthen not only its economic but also its moral underpinning.”

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan

“To recognize the social solidarity of the human family brings with it the responsibility to build on what makes us one. This means promoting effectively and without exception the equal dignity of all as human beings endowed with certain fundamental and inalienable human rights. This touches all aspects of our individual life, as well as our life in the family, in the community in which we live, an in the world. Once we truly grasp that we are brothers and sisters in a common humanity, then we can shape our attitudes towards life in the light of the solidarity which makes us one. This is especially true in all that relates to the basic universal project: peace.”

John Paul II ‘Development and Solidarity: two keys to peace’.