Second edition of World Tolerance Summit begins under the slogan Tolerance in Multiculturalism
Sessions highlighted role of culture, economy, media and society in promoting the values of tolerance and social coexistence
UAE Dubai
Sallam Sallam
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the second edition of World Tolerance Summit, organised by the International Institute for Tolerance (IIT), one of the initiatives of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, themed ‘Tolerance in Multiculturalism: Achieving the Social, Economic and Humane Benefits of a Tolerant World’, began in the presence of Dr Hamad Al Shaibani, Managing Director of IIT, Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Summit and top officials from across the world.
The summit, which is attended by more than 3,000 thousand high-level personalities, including local and international officials, experts, academics, researchers, specialists and clerics, highlighted the dignity of human beings and called for a constructive way for human rapprochement through dialogue and understanding for the good of humanity.
In his opening speech on the first day of the two-day summit, Dr Hamad Al Shaibani stressed the pioneering role played by the UAE in spreading the values of tolerance at the global level thanks to the wise leadership, keen to promote values of tolerance, coexistence and peace among different segments of society under the banner ‘Tolerance for all.’
He stressed that the supreme goal of the summit is to promote the values and culture of coexistence in society, and expressed his hope that the sessions will come up with many ideas and visions to promote peaceful coexistence.
Dr Al Shaibani praised the keenness of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in introducing many civilisational and humanitarian initiatives to promote values of tolerance among communities.
Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman of the Organising Committee, said that the summit succeeded in mobilising a large number of experts and those interested in development of societies and the promotion of the values of tolerance and peace to achieve social security and stability to build a sustainable future.
The summit’s focus on youth as a fundamental pillar to attain goals of sustainable development, and the slogan of the summit ‘Tolerance in Multiculturalism’ has a profound indication of the will of the state and its bet in making the people of the state in consolidating the values of unity, cooperation and dialogue that enable them to achieve sustainable development.
Participants in the workshops and sessions discussed a number of challenges, which they said were not specific to a country but extended to different countries.
The summit, which concludes tomorrow (Thursday) coincides with the Year of Tolerance 2019, announced by the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, thus establishing the UAE as the global capital of tolerance.
The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of UAE, had strived hard to consolidate the values of tolerance since the foundation of the UAE, a country which has welcomed different cultures, and allowed them to have various places of worship in order to allow individuals to practise their religion.
To promote and build a tolerant society, Ministry of Tolerance, UAE has laws criminalising hate speeches, organises conferences, launches initiatives to promote tolerance, and announced 2019 as Year of Tolerance.
