United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on faith leaders from around the world to use their wisdom and leadership to counter the forces of radicalization and intolerance and to stand up to promote dialogue and mutual understanding.
Addressing religious leaders gathered in the General Assembly on the second day of the two-day thematic debate on “Promoting Tolerance and Reconciliation: Fostering Peaceful, Inclusive Societies and Countering Violent Extremism”, Mr. Ban said he was troubled by an “empathy gap” in the world today. “People are turning their eyes from what is happening to others.”
The Secretary-General warned that the values, enshrined in the United Nations Charter, of dignity and worth of the human person, equal rights of men and women, tolerance and living together in peace and harmony were under siege.
Noting that this year marked the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, Mr. Ban said: “Our values are held in contempt by terrorists and violent extremists bent on imposing their warped visions and bankrupt ideologies. Violent extremism is not a North-South or East-West issue. It is not confined to a particular region or religion. It transcends borders and exists across the world. Religion does not cause violence; people do.”
The thematic debate brought together Government officials from 63 Member States, along with faith leaders and academics representing Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. The gathering, organized by General Assembly President Sam Kutesa in conjunction with the Secretary-General and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, aimed at discussing practical strategies to counter the rise of intolerance and violent extremism. It also provided a platform for religious leaders to promote dialogue and respect for human rights while looking at how diverse faith communities can address common challenges.
“Today, we see violent extremism most vividly in the atrocities committed by Da’esh, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaida and other sectarian and terrorist groups,” Mr. Ban said, adding that it was also evident in racist acts and hate speech. “Prejudice against those of another faith, history or culture is always toxic,” he said, noting that the global response to violent extremism needed to look at the root causes of the problem and factors that enabled extremists to gain new recruits.
Raising the question about the attraction of extremist ideologies, he said most of those recruited by violent extremists were young men, although women were also falling under the influence. Many were frustrated with the few avenues available to them to pursue productive lives and find their place in society. “We must show them another way, a better way. That includes working to end poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity”.
The Secretary-General announced that he would form an advisory panel of religious leaders to promote interfaith dialogue and would present a comprehensive plan of action on preventing violent extremism to the seventieth session of the General Assembly later this year.
As out of the world’s 7 billion people, more than 5 billion identify themselves as members of religious communities, religious leaders and educators can play an important role in teaching their followers the correct meaning of mutual understanding and respecting the other’s faith.
“We expect our religious leaders to be brave and to teach their followers when they see something morally wrong. I ask you, too, to do more to amplify the voice of the moderate majority so we may drown out those who preach violence and hatred,” Mr. Ban told the meeting, which concluded today.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, the Secretary-General urged the international community to come together to combat violent extremism. “The world must unite against extremism. We must get at the roots of what fuels it,” he stated.
Also addressing reporters, Mr. Kutesa pointed out that 2015 has been so far a challenging year around the world. “Almost everywhere, people, communities and nations are grappling with a disquieting rise of radicalization and violent extremism. From Paris to Tunis; from Garissa to Yarmouk; from Johannesburg to Peshawar; no person, society or nation is immune from intolerance and the threat of terrorism or violent extremism.”
“There is no justification for such attacks,” he stressed. We must condemn all manifestations of intolerance, including anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism.”
He further told reporters “enough is enough. The course of violence must be curbed. Let us defeat obscurantism.” All were here today to create a more tolerant, peaceful world, he added.
Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General, United Nations
[Full article at UN website http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/ga11637.doc.htm?mc_cid=64d76690cf&mc_eid=432c1b1ac4]
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