"Abu Dhabi Peace" and"United Nations" They discuss cooperation to confront hate speech and prevent genocide in Africa
NEW YORK, June 13, 2017 (WAM) – His Excellency Sheikh Mahfouz bin Bayyah, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum, and His Excellency Chaloka Bayani, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Prevention of Genocide and Under-Secretary-General, discussed ways to enhance joint cooperation to confront the spread of hate speech and prevent genocide and atrocity crimes, during a meeting held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The meeting discussed future cooperation opportunities on the African continent through the programs of the African Conference for the Promotion of Peace and the “U3” initiative for preventive dialogues and sustainable peace, which contribute to strengthening national dialogue, supporting societal cohesion, and addressing factors of tension and polarization before they turn into conflicts or large-scale acts of violence.
His Excellency Sheikh Al-Mahfouz bin Bayyah, the UN official, delivered the final report of the latest session of the initiative, the “London Dialogue”, reviewing its most prominent outcomes and recommendations related to preventive dialogue and building partnerships that support sustainable peace.
The two sides agreed to begin technical consultations between the competent authorities of both parties to explore areas of joint work, especially in the areas of early warning, combating hate speech, and enhancing the capabilities of religious and community leaders to contribute to the prevention of conflicts and atrocity crimes.
His Excellency Sheikh Al-Mahfouz bin Bayyah stressed that confronting hate speech represents one of the most important priorities of preventive work, pointing out that wars begin with words, and that confronting speeches that incite hatred and exclusion constitutes an essential step to protect societies from violence, extremism, and divisions that may lead to mass atrocities.
This meeting comes as an extension of the cooperation process between the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum and the United Nations Office for the Prevention of Genocide. The forum contributed to supporting international efforts aimed at highlighting the positive role of religious leaders in preventing incitement to violence, the most prominent of which is the Fez Action Plan, which was launched in 2017, and is considered an international reference in the field of preventing incitement to violence, preventing atrocity crimes, and promoting a culture of peace and coexistence.
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