MOSCOW, November 16 (Sputnik) — The word 'tolerance', which used to stand in the past for special values or qualities, has gone obsolete, Irina Kosterina, Gender Democracy Coordinator with the Heinrich Boell Foundation, told Sputnik Sunday.
"The word 'tolerance' is either already out of date or is no longer relevant. Previously, it used to denote special values or qualities — the acceptance of another person, other than you," Kosterina said.
"The social mechanism of identity implies that people are always looking for those who are like them in appearance, values, place of origin, religion and language. And it's much more difficult to accept and understand the 'outsiders' who live, look, think and behave differently," she added.
According to Kosterina, due to Russia's history, its society is not very open to the outsiders.
"Many Russian cities and regions are inhabited by homogeneous population of one nationality, religion, etc.," Kosterina noted. Those outsiders are sometimes "treated with suspicion and even hostility".
Earlier today, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon issued a statement on tolerance, saying that "democratic and peaceful societies are not immune from prejudice and violence. There is growing hostility and discrimination towards people crossing borders in search of asylum or opportunities denied to them at home".
Kosterina agreed with the Secretary-General on this, stating that "despite many efforts to promote tolerance as part of the democratic ideology, xenophobia and homophobia still continue to exist in all countries".
"I would say that the world is moving in two directions simultaneously: on the one hand, the number of people who adhere to principles of tolerance and non-discrimination is growing. On the other hand, nationalist and homophobic ideology is becoming more pronounced and influential," she concluded.
Irina Kosterina's remarks come on the International Day for Tolerance, which is seen on November 16 every year. On that day in 1995, UNESCO adopted the Declaration of Principles and Follow-up Plan of Action for the United Nations Year for Tolerance.
In 1996, the UN General Assembly called on the UN Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on November 16 by organizing activities both at educational establishments and with the wider public.
