Building Coalitions to fight against Xenophobia, Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other form of intolerance in the context of Intercultural and interdependent societies

  • Lokman
  • Monday, October 01, 2012
  • Hotel Sofitel Grand Sopot

Building Coalitions to fight against Xenophobia, Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other form of intolerance in the context of Intercultural and interdependent societies.

 Monday, 1st October 2012

13.00 – 15.00

Hotel Sofitel Victoria – Meeting room 2

OSCE HDIM – WARSAW

 Today, more and more people are committing themselves to the ideals of a just, equal and peaceful society in which people of different religions, ethnicities and cultures can happily co-exist. All sensible people reject the notion that any single religion or culture can claim a monopoly over wisdom.

It is therefore necessary to make sound and pluralistic reflections on these issues by Jewish, Christian and Muslim intellectuals, academicians, officials and civil society representatives. If there were ever a time that religious pluralism and peace ought to be seriously cherished by politicians, public officials, intellectuals, policymakers and the media, as well as by the general audience, that time is now.

Today, we need to build new coalitions between all actors of our society to fight against xenophobia, anti-Semitism islamophobia and various form of intolerance and discrimination.

For that, we have to take into consideration not only present manifestations of intolerance and discrimination, but also have to recognize the historical, cultural and psychological depth of the issue. In the same time, a relatively sound normative framework, both nationally and internationally, does exist. What is needed is to put this normative framework into full use and implementation.

Through this side-event, we want to share the idea that various forms of intolerance and discrimination need not be subject to an artificial hierarchy. Within that respect, there should be complementarity between efforts dealing with different forms of discrimination.

Discussing on this topic during the Freedom of Religion and Belief Session of HDIM in Warsaw on next October, will give a new platform to build coalitions for fighting together against all form of intolerances.