In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. Next, in December 2002, the UN General Assembly declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.  With the Universal Declaration, it adopted a more expansive understanding based on anthropology. This defined cultural diversity as "the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group", including lifestyles, value systems, traditions, and beliefs. The twelve articles of the Universal Declaration were published with an action plan for ways to promote cultural diversity. The action plan connected cultural diversity explicitly to human rights including freedom of expression, freedom of movement, and protection of indigenous knowledge. The declaration identifies cultural diversity as a source of innovation and creativity as well as a driver of both economic development and personal development.

The text defines a set of cultural rights that range from the social and economic rights of artists to artistic freedom, the right of indigenous communities to safeguard their ancestral knowledge, and the protection and promotion of cultural and natural heritage.

UNESCO leads the celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development highlighting not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.

According to UNESCO data, the cultural and creative sector is one of the most powerful engines of development worldwide. It accounts for more than 48 million jobs globally –almost half of which are held by women – representing 6.2% of all existing employment and 3.1% of global GDP. It is also the sector that employs and provides opportunities for the largest number of young people under the age of 30.

“Three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts have a cultural dimension. Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development. Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, especially as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. Cultural diversity is an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development”.

(Source: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations)

We can identify the quote stated above as an answer to the question: Why does diversity matter?

If diversity is identified as an “asset” and the lack of it represents the source of three quarters of the world’s mayor conflicts, we should work for /towards including it in our list of values, better yet in our priority while teaching.

Peace and Equality (all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies) are also considered among our most important values, and teachings related to diversification, solution of conflict, equality and peace should also be on that list. It was for Maria Montessori…

Maria Montessori believed each generation of children brings renewed hope for a more peaceful world. As children move from respecting their physical space to respectful collaboration, from projecting their own desires for peace and social justice to leading that change, they will come to understand that conflict is an opportunity for growth and understand their own potential for leadership; deeper commitment to education for peace and social justice supports the attainment of basic human rights such as freedom, dignity, safety, and equity; by creating inclusive classrooms, celebrating diversity in all its forms, crossing cultural boundaries, and modeling respect, Montessori educators nurture students who will transform the world and make it a better place for their generation and the generations that follow.

Montessori believed that laying the foundations for peace through education was the most effective and the most constructive way of opposing war. (Education and Peace). She also strongly believed that, if peace on earth were to ever prevail, it would begin with the children. (Education and Peace)

Montessori classrooms are places where children are shown the value of respect, compassion, and kindness through daily interactions with each other and the adults in the environment. Our commitment to transmit, even model the values to the children is one of the many foundations of the Montessori Philosophy that I “fell in love with”. Not only as a mother, but as a teacher I am convinced that teaching our children, our students, values, will sign them up for success; being aware of their peers and respecting each other’s differences is the recipe towards harmony and peace, in the classroom, at school, at home and in the community. Oftentimes it is their example that leads towards understanding and empathy; diversity is about being diverse, different, it is okey to be different, its simple and we don’t need to make a lot of noise and act all-powerful to foster respect and kindness for those who are different; at the end of the day...

The word “diversity” encompasses a series of values that are not only important for children to grow up around, but also for us adults; we can always “show” them in our own “way of living” and lead by example; it is really quite simple, a kind word, a helping hand, offering a shoulder to lean on, helping out in the community, etc. There are so many ways to do just that: be open to the differences and having respect for them; children, specially at a young age learn a lot of things by imitation, as teachers, especially Montessori teachers we are guides, so let’s invite our students to learn “by imitation”, showing respect for our fellow human beings.

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