Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, the second edition of the World Tolerance Summit kicked off yesterday under the theme “Tolerance in Multicultural: Achieving Social, Economic and Humanitarian Benefits to a Tolerant World”. Ruler of Dubai, organized by the International Institute for Tolerance.
Some 3,700 participants from world leaders, international experts, government officials and specialists from more than 121 countries will discuss ways to promote tolerance globally, support constructive dialogue among different civilizations, cultures and religions, emphasize respect for fundamental principles of justice and human rights, and train and empower Young people can practice tolerance.
In his opening speech, Dr. Hamad Al-Shaibani, Managing Director of the International Institute for Tolerance, stressed the UAE's leading role in spreading the values of tolerance at the global level thanks to the leadership keen to develop the values of tolerance, coexistence and peace among the categories of society to become a global platform for human dialogue. The UAE's embrace of the second World Tolerance Summit comes as part of its initiatives to promote tolerance in the world and combat extremism.
He also stressed that the aim of the summit is to promote the values and culture of coexistence in societies.
For his part, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Summit, Daoud Shizawi, said that the World Summit for Tolerance succeeded in mobilizing a large number of specialists and those interested in the development of societies, and promote the values of tolerance and peace, and the consolidation of high humanitarian concepts effectively in achieving the security and stability of society and build its future.
He added that the dialogue sessions, interactive workshops and the programs accompanying the event are important because they are based on an accurate scientific vision and the accumulated experiences of the speakers, in addition to the experiences of living, pointing out that the summit focus on youth as a key pillar to reach the goals and objectives of sustainable development.
He said that the slogan of the summit, "Tolerance in the Multicultural Cultures", carries a profound significance that reflects the will of the state and its wager to make the people of the state a glorious and tolerant advocate and key actors in consolidating the values of unity, cooperation and dialogue, and enabling them to achieve sustainable and promising development strategies.
Participants in the workshops and sessions discussed a number of challenges which they said were not specific to a state but extend to different civilizations, where societies face many challenges, including the absence of responsibility to participate in building countries, stressing that building societies is based on respect. Two societies are advancing and fulfilling their aspirations of science, knowledge and research, giving young people a chance to start, innovate and prosper.
The Summit saw a session on tolerance in higher education, another session on the social impact of tolerance on today's youth, the use of tolerance to achieve peace, respect for diversity and the fight against racism, and the challenges facing governmental and non-governmental organizations in promoting peace and tolerance.
Inas bint Sulaiman Al-Essa, the rector of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Saudi Arabia, stressed that tolerance is present in the various activities of the university, where students are being prepared to become active members of tolerant and sustainable societies.
It also held a session titled “The Effective Role of Media in Mediating Through Messages of Tolerance”, which dealt with the effective role of the media in mediating through messages of tolerance, promoting peace, tolerance and diversity, through all media channels and platforms, and the need to combat fake news.
Participants stressed the need for media commitment to professionalism and objectivity, with a positive impact by spreading the values of tolerance and promoting awareness in society.
The summit also saw the opportunity to present students' projects of tolerance, with students from universities and schools in the country highlighting their projects on tolerance and exchanging views on them.
Support tolerance initiatives
Dubai Police has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Institute for Tolerance (IIC), on the sidelines of the Summit, to strengthen cooperation and integrate the partnership between the two sides in the field of tolerance. The two sides agreed to support projects, initiatives and activities related to the field of tolerance, and to cooperate in the development of efficient work systems in accordance with international best practices, thus contributing to the enhancement of the UAE's position in the field of tolerance.
Promote the principles of peaceful coexistence
The World Summit for Tolerance focuses on how to promote the principles of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, acceptance and understanding of others, the preservation of human dignity, and the realization of friendship among human beings, on the diversity of their religions, beliefs, cultures and languages, by addressing different life issues in several areas of education, the work environment, and the role of government leaders. And religious in the establishment of the rules of tolerance, issues of equality, justice, etc., involving all groups of society of women, men and youth.
Participants emphasized the need for media to be objective in the dissemination of the values of tolerance.