Activities of National Festival of Tolerance start at Expo ’20
Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak launches the ‘Global Tolerance Alliance’, the ‘Religions Summit’ and the ‘Global Youth Forum’
Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, will inaugurate on Tuesday the activities organised by the Ministry within the National Festival of Tolerance at Expo 2020 Dubai, in conjunction with the Tolerance and Inclusivity Week.
Among the activities to be launched are the Global Tolerance Alliance and the Joint World Summit of Religions under the slogan “Towards a Compassionate World through Interreligious Tolerance and Understanding”. Prominent international leaders from the UN, the Vatican, and Al Azhar Al Sharif, along with leaders of different religions and laws, and prominent thinkers from different countries of the world will be attending the events.
The international activities of the Festival will continue until November 20, including the Global Tolerance Choir, the Global Youth Forum, the Tolerance and Inclusivity Conference for Women’s Rights and Empowerment, and Zayed Trail of Tolerance.
“The influx and keenness of prominent global leaders of many international and regional institutions, notably the UN, the Vatican and Al-azhar Al-sharif, to participate in the World Summit of Religions and atend the launch of the Global Tolerance Alliance, translates the international community’s confidence in the UAE, and confirms nobility of its purpose in promoting tolerance, coexistence and peace throughout the world,” Sheikh Nahyan said.
He continued, “It is also an emphasis of the success of the National Festival of Tolerance in achieving its loty goal, as the Festival’s perspective of this year is very vital, because it contributes to transferring the Emirati experience in tolerance to the world, as well as identifying the most prominent successful experiences in this field.”
The National Festival of Tolerance is open for all segments of society, including youth, women, school and university students, thinkers and religious leaders, as well as representatives of the countries participating in Expo 2020 Dubai, Sheikh Nahyan said.
“This edition of the Festival, which is being hosted by Expo 2020 Dubai, has contributed to enabling the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence to convoy its message to the whole world through it,” Sheikh Nahyan said, commending the Expo’s role in spreading values of tolerance globally. “The activities of the Festival will continue until November 20, including activities for partners from ministries, entities, institutions, universities and schools, along with the tolerance and coexistence commitees in ministries and federal and local departments to promote the values of tolerance among employees and customers under the umbrella of the government program - the tolerance incubator. Moreover, the government buildings will light their headquarters with the slogan of the National Festival of Tolerance, in addition to changing the scope of Etisalat to the word tolerance,” Sheikh Nahyan added.
The Global Tolerance Alliance, which is expected to open the door for all countries of the world to join it, comes in a historical scene in which everyone pledges to make all possible efforts to promote a culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. A global initiative launched from the UAE to the world to express a strong commitment to accepting, understanding all and respecting their needs, as well as working constantly to reach shared knowledge and mutual enrichment for the sake of humanity. Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, and Miguel Angel Moratinos, High Representative for the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations will speak on “The Undisputed Speech and the Power of Global Alliances”. The launch of the Joint World Summit of Religions under the slogan “Towards a Compassionate World through Interreligious Tolerance and Understanding” by the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence seeks to reach a common understanding and unity of humanity and to end hateful sectarian conflicts and disputes.
Among the speakers of the Summit is the Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marina Serini, who will speak on the promotion of humanity through global cooperation and interfaith dialogue. Also, Dr. Mohammad Al Duweni, Undersecretary of Al Azhar Al-sharif, will address the issue of faith rooted in human values. Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of southern Arabia, will address the importance of pluralism and fraternity as a path towards a cohesive society. In addition, a large number of religious leaders whose discussions enrich the summit, in an atmosphere of tolerance, coexistence and human fraternity.