Cultural diversity is the greatest strength of humanity: Chairman of Geneva Centre
"The 2018 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is an important occasion to celebrate the Earth's common cultural heritage. Cultural diversity has been a force for social progress and development since time immemorial. All people regardless of religions, creeds, value-systems and cultural origins belong to humankind. Cultural diversity remains the greatest strength of humanity," he said.
In this regard, Dr. Al Qassim highlighted the need to address ominous threats and divisive narratives descending on modern societies. The rise of violent extremism, militant forms of nationalism and populism represents a threat to multicultural societies, human well-being as well as world peace and stability, he added.
The exclusion and marginalization of people as witnessed in several countries fuel xenophobia, bigotry, and racism. The proliferation of crises and conflict has the potential to divide societies and to foster hatred, intolerance, and animosity between people regardless of cultural and religious origins, he noted.
"The rise of hatred, bigotry and the fear of the other as witnessed in major regions of the world contributes to an atmosphere of social exclusion, division, and rejection. It paves the way for the destruction of multicultural societies and targets people irrespective of cultural and religious origin.
"Differences related to cultures and religions are presented as obstacles and as being damaging to modern societies. This explains the rise of social exclusion, which leaves the impression that cultural diversity is a threat and not a source of richness for societies. We must address divisive narratives and nationalistic tensions, which impede the celebration of cultural diversity," he added.
Dr. Al Qassim reiterated the importance of fostering dialogue and intercultural exchanges between people of different cultural and religious backgrounds to overcome this ominous context. Points of commonality and areas of convergence, he remarked, must be found to identify areas of mutual understanding among people of different religions, creeds, value systems and cultural origins.
"The veils of ignorance and prejudice, which have descended on modern societies can be addressed through dialogue between and within societies, civilizations, and cultures. Harmonious relationships between people start with cultural interaction and cultural empathy. We must create synergies between people through the promotion of cultural, social and economic events uniting people irrespective of cultural origin.'' "Global decision-makers have an important role to play to find appropriate ways to denounce and bring an end to practices that hinder the celebration of cultural diversity. People with goodwill from different layers of society should work towards a world society that is reconciled with cultural diversity, so that the latter is not feared but embraced and celebrated," the Geneva Centre's Chairman concluded in his statement.
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