Mumtaz Hussain
UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly today adopted with consensus a draft biennial resolution titled “Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace” presented jointly by Pakistan and Philippines with a support of a large number of co-sponsors.
Delivering remarks while introducing the draft resolution, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, thanked Member States for their understanding, flexibility and strong support, particularly to the increasing number of co-sponsors of the draft resolution from the cross-section of UN membership.
He said that the draft resolution reaffirms the right to freedom of expression and reflects commitment of all States to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
He said that it also upholds that violence cannot and should never be a justifiable or acceptable response to acts of intolerance based on religion or belief, and that such violence should not be attributed to any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.
The Pakistan Permanent Representative termed dialogue between religions, cultures and civilizations as a shared aspiration of the international community, which, he said is indispensable for fostering a spirit of understanding, peaceful coexistence and interfaith harmony.
He said that in order to realize humanity’s longstanding quest for enduring peace and prosperity, it is essential to promote a culture of peace — one that embraces diversity and inclusivity; safeguards fundamental rights and freedoms; and shuns the social structures and stereotypes which seek to create divisions amongst individuals, societies, communities and nation States.
Ambassador Asim said that the resolution drew on the principles of the UN Charter and UNESCO Constitution, and emphasizes that lasting peace is built through tolerance, dialogue, and constructive engagement among nations and communities.
He said that it is in this spirit that Pakistan and the Philippines, with the support of numerous co-sponsors, tabled the biennial resolution to promote inter-cultural and inter-faith solidarity and harmony. He said that this year, the sponsors proposed a technical roll-over of the resolution in order to preserve and reaffirm the core message that was adopted by consensus during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
He further stated that despite advances made over the years, much more needs to be done to fully realize these cherished ideals, adding that regrettably, xenophobia, racism and intolerance persist, which behooves us to continue our efforts through the UN platform and beyond to foster peace and harmonious co-existence worldwide.
