“Human kind cannot exist without cooperation” has been said by the most famous Arab sociologist and philosopher, Ibn Khaldun – about cooperation and solidarity.
– Ibn Khaldun: the founder of sociology. [1]
Human beings have always cooperated and supported each other through thick and thin in all human societies, and they took the concept of solidarity upon themselves, began to apply it and supported each other with all intimacy and love. Today, however, things are different in today’s circumstances and successive wars and health crises.
Anyone who is not satisfied with today’s realities will see the commemoration of the International Day of Human Solidarity as mere slogans by those organizations concerned with the well-being of all mankind, and in fact, there is no so-called solidarity. There is merely a fierce conflict and competition to achieve the interests and objectives of States and peoples. If we look at where we are today, this pessimistic view seems correct.
Solidarity is identified in the Millennium Declaration as one of the fundamental values of international relations in the 21st Century, wherein those who either suffer or benefit least deserve help from those who benefit most. Consequently, in light of the current circumstances and the challenge of growing inequality, strengthening international solidarity is indispensable.
Therefore, the UN General Assembly, convinced that promoting the culture of solidarity and the spirit of sharing is important for combating poverty, proclaimed 20 of December as International Human Solidarity Day. Through initiatives such as the establishment of the World Solidarity Fund to eradicate poverty and the proclamation of International Human Solidarity Day, the concept of solidarity was promoted as crucial in the fight against poverty and in the involvement of all relevant stakeholders. [2]
The general objective of human solidarity is to create an enabling environment for the following:
The importance of human solidarity comes from being:
All States and Governments are well aware of the concept of solidarity in society, in order to maximize the country’s strength. The majority of States are therefore creating blocs and parties that disseminate the concept of solidarity in society, in order to reach the best possible result. [4]
The concept of solidarity has defined the work of the United Nations since the birth of the Organization. The creation of the United Nations drew the peoples and nations of the world together to promote peace, human rights, and social and economic development. The Organization was founded on the basic premise of unity and harmony among its members, expressed in the concept of collective security that relies on the solidarity of its members to unite “to maintain international peace and security.”
The Organization relies on the concept of solidarity “cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character” as well, and it identified it as one of the fundamental and universal values that should underlie relations between peoples in the twenty-first century. In that regard, it was decided to proclaim 20 December of each year International Human Solidarity Day.
The General Assembly established the World Solidarity Fund as a trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme. Its objective is to eradicate poverty and promote human and social development in developing countries, in particular among the poorest segments of their populations. [5]
Solidarity does not take a particular pattern because capabilities vary from time to time and the individual’s data differ from that of the other.
Type 1: psychological solidarity. In the most famous type of solidarity, an individual provides various forms of psychological support to others. This type of solidarity can be offered on a narrow scale between brothers, relatives and friends. Individual tries to listen to his brother’s complaint and help him get rid of the disadvantages he feels. One of the most important examples is solidarity with women’s and children’s issues. Psychological solidarity may be in such a broader form that peoples will stand in solidarity with each other, such as Arabs’ solidarity with their Palestinian brothers and sisters.
Type 2: Political solidarity. States provide assistance to each other through political positions in which states support other States to realize and redress their demands.
Type 3: Economic solidarity. In two respects: The first one is wide, and it is through peoples’ solidarity with each other; people provide some food and medical items and send them to associations that ensure the delivery to vulnerable people. This is reflected in solidarity in natural disasters and wars. There is a narrow economic solidarity, through the provision of certain jobs for the people in the same society; as some people are creating a range of private enterprises that secure small jobs for people with no income.
Type 4: Social solidarity. which constitutes a supportive point for members of the entire community. Their weak strength helps in any way possible, whether material or moral.
Any kind and any example of solidarity guarantees a genuine benefit to society’s members; Whether the donor or the recipient. It leads to closer communication between the people of the same society and the people of different peoples. [6]
Any objection to the topic of “human solidarity” would be valid, if solidarity is taken as a word in the broad sense with no real meaning and cannot be implemented on the ground. But the aspiration of the United Nations to revive this day is not merely figurative and constructive expressions of human solidarity, it is the Implementation of concrete plans on the ground entitled “Sustainable development”. Solidarity among human beings is linked to development that contributes to alleviating conflicts and disputes. Development plans are presented in various areas starting with trade and economic exchanges in the development of education and health sectors to ensure the stability of societies, and with regard to environmental cooperation at the global level, with a view to mitigating the impacts of ecological changes on the lives of individuals and peoples alike. [1]
If humanity has to show human solidarity, it will be during epidemics and crises that strike all of humanity. without distinction between countries and peoples.
The Covid-19 pandemic is only one of them, in which human solidarity should have been shown at its highest levels. The pandemic has shown that governments around the world must ensure the continued availability of essential health services and protect health systems, and help people cope with adversity through social protection and basic services. [1]
Solidarity is one of the greatest morals, if a person possesses it, he will have possessed the reins of goodness and virtue. Solidarity is not achieved unless a person feels the concerns of his fellow man. Solidarity is the word that makes a person feel safe when fear strikes. So, the member of the community knows that he is not alone and that there are many hands that pull him out from among the stones that he may stumble upon. So his soul is reassured as long as there are people who feel for others and provide them with help without any expected benefit.
The question remains pending: Will the world be able to establish the principles of solidarity and activate them on the ground?
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References:
[2] UN
[3] OHCHR
[4] Almrsal
[5] UN
[6] Mawdoo3