International Human Solidarity Day

What Is International Human Solidarity Day?

December 20 is "International Human Solidarity Day," established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 2005. Solidarity means supporting one another and working together toward shared goals. This day recognizes the importance of global solidarity in addressing challenges such as poverty, hunger, disease, and environmental destruction.

Global Challenges That Call for Solidarity

• Poverty and hunger: More than 800 million people worldwide still face hunger, and over 1.5 billion live in extreme poverty
• Climate change: An unequal structure in which emissions from developed nations contribute to disasters and food crises in developing countries
• Infectious disease: As COVID-19 demonstrated, an outbreak in one country can quickly affect the entire world
• Widening inequality: More than half of the world's wealth is concentrated in the hands of the wealthiest 1%

Putting Solidarity Into Practice

• Fair trade: Choosing to support trade practices that ensure producers in developing countries receive fair compensation
• Donations and crowdfunding: Providing financial support to people facing hardship
• Volunteering and NGO work: Direct participation in efforts to address local and international challenges
• Conscious consumption: Choosing products and companies that reduce harm to the environment and workers

This day is about nurturing a spirit of solidarity — valuing "everyone's well-being" rather than just "my own."