International Day for Tolerance: A chance to create a more inclusive society

The International Day for Tolerance was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1996 and celebrated on November 16th. Its purpose is to promote respect, comprehension and tolerance among the cultures and people with diverse origins, including gender, identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and class. This day reminds us that human diversity is not only inevitable but is also a priceless source of knowledge and mutual enrichment.

In the context of our health programs, Asociación PASMO works to contribute to build inclusive societies for a more effective response to HIV, addressing stigma and discrimination, one of the most important barriers among affected communities, people living with HIV and their access to health care services.

Nowadays, the efforts related to this date seek to go beyond tolerance and build more inclusive and respectful societies where all people’s human rights are protected and respected.

As part of Asociación PASMO’s HIV actions, we contribute to inclusion and human rights promotion through different interventions:

• Work with civil society in Central America to implement the “Espacios Libres” Work with civil society in Central America to methodology to build communities free of stigma and discrimination.
• Health providers sensitization and training for the provision of “friendly” and stigma-free HIV/STI services to vulnerable populations as part of “Zonas Libres de Estigma y Discriminación” methodology.
• Mass media and digital media promotion to disseminate information and messages about HIV, social inclusion, and human rights.
• Internamente PASMO tiene como política promover igualdad de oportunidades desde la perspectiva de género, interculturalidad y de reconocimiento de la diversidad sexual y las discapacidades en las contrataciones.

Celebrating International Tolerance Day gives us the opportunity to build more inclusive societies. It invites us to take concrete steps and commit to building spaces, communities, and societies where human diversity in all its ways can be celebrated and respected within the framework of human rights.