By Michele M. Vella, MS, MA, Med., edited by Jim Luce
United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Principle 10 commits to inter-cultural dialogue, understanding and the unlearning of intolerance through education. What does it mean to unlearn intolerance? Is intolerance, tolerance, inside out? If so, is tolerance enough? How do UNAI member institutions engage Principle 10 and strive towards greater multicultural competence?
On May 5, Undersecretary General Kiyo Akasaka, Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, Former President of India R. Venkataraman’s daughter Lakshmi Venkatesan, a distinguished panel of inter-generational Indian literary scholars, and UNAI representatives participated in the 8th U.N. Department of Public Information (DPI) Symposium Series “Unlearning Intolerance” at U.N. Headquarters.
Throughout the discussion, the audience was reminded of the symbiotic relationship between academics and member states - academics informing the political landscape, the political landscape driving scholarship.
The United Nations Academic Impact hosted a panel on unlearning of intolerance.