The UN General Assembly has adopted, without a vote, two resolutions that stressed the advancement of a culture of peace and non-violence based on education, tolerance, dialogue and cooperation.
A document from the assembly made available to reporters on Friday said members adopted a text is titled:”Promotion of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace”.
By this, the Assembly, among other measures, emphasised that mutual understanding and interreligious and intercultural dialogue constituted important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and of the culture of peace.
Members also condemned any advocacy of religious hatred which induced discrimination, hostility and violence.
In a related resolution, the Assembly encouraged the UN peace-building architecture to continue to promote peaceful
activities and to advance a culture of peace and non-violence in post-conflict efforts at the country level.
activities and to advance a culture of peace and non-violence in post-conflict efforts at the country level.
The resolution also urged the authorities to provide education in children’s schools that built a culture of peace and non-violence.
In his statement, Amb. Ramadhan Mwinyi of the United Republic of Tanzania, voiced his deep concern about the growing wave of extremism, violence and conflicts that were engulfing many societies.
More shocking, he said, was the emergence of non-State actors whose brutal transnational operations posed an imminent threat to global security.
Mwinyi said the international community needed to act collectively to suppress criminal activities by blocking their means of survival, including weapons, funds, and supporters. Military measures were not an antidote of terrorism.
Drawing attention to the international cooperation in addressing violent extremism and tackling its root causes, he welcomed interventions that took into account national and religious priorities.
He stressed the importance of youth empowerment as means of addressing violent extremism.
The representative also emphasised the important role played by the faith-based organisations and religious leaders who exhibited tremendous influence on the communities.
In his statement, Amb. Osama Mahmoud of Egypt, said that increasing incidents of violence, negative stereotyping of religions and increased incidence of religious hatred were a matter of concern.
Mahmoud said they were being clearly manifested in the insistence by some to defame religions under the guise of “freedom of expression”.
Equally alarming, he said, were attempts to conflate combating terrorism with unjustified discrimination against individuals or groups on ethnic or religious grounds.
He said a comprehensive approach should be adopted to address the root causes of violence, extremism and terrorism.
Such efforts, he added, should not be limited to military and security aspects, but should also include such factors as economic and social development and rectifying religious discourse.
Also contributing, Amb. Michel Monte of Cameroon, said the world remained a crucible of destructive conflict, old and new.
Monte said there is current trend towards the growth of religious intolerance.
That justified, he said, efforts to uphold everywhere the creative management of dispute and divisions, with the aim of promoting a state of mind based on a culture of peace.
Monte said Boko Haram was an outgrowth of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham (ISIL/ISIS), which was causing suffering to so many families around the world.
Citing the President of his country, he said it was a global threat that required a global solution.
The representative said the international community’s challenges around peace issues remained significant.
Platforms welcoming the values of understanding, mutual respect and dialogue, he said, remained necessary.
The international community, he said, must combat extremism and other forms of discrimination.
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