Economic development key to tolerance, MiSK forum hears
Saudi philanthropic organization, UN Development Program team up for event in New York
NEW YORK: Economic development is a key factor in deterring young people in the Middle East and elsewhere from becoming involved in terrorism, a gathering of world leaders heard in New York.
A one-day youth forum on tolerance was told that economic advancement would encourage young people to participate in civil society and peaceful dialogue.
It was held under the joint auspices of the MiSK Foundation, the Saudi Arabian philanthropic organization headed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the UN Development Program.
Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, Saudi Arabian ambassador to the UN, told the forum that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“Both have not only economic parameters, but are also about the potential in society, the environment and in justice. The Saudi strategy describes a vision of how to move from dependence on one commodity and how to develop a more coherent society with integrity in its approach to social issues, which are also the goals of the UN,” Al-Mouallimi said.
Achim Steiner, administrator of the UN Development Program, also stressed the role of economic development in nurturing tolerance. “For young people, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals means the possibility of attending school, having access to health care, participating in their civic and political discourse, and living free from conflict. It means having hope and prosperity.”
The one-day MiSK event consisted of high-level panel discussions, speeches and workshops, with more than 20 youth leaders from around the world.
One memorable moment came when Saudi writer Kawthar Al-Arbash recounted the moment she learned that her son had been killed after he stopped a suicide bomber from carrying out an attack inside a mosque in the city of Dammam. Her moving, personal account was met with a standing ovation.