45th Plenary Meeting of General Assembly 74th Session
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English
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The General Assembly today adopted three resolutions on the culture of peace, highlighting the need to foster interreligious and cultural dialogue, temper social media and bolster education in efforts to prevent future clashes between and within societies.
Introducing a draft on “Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace”, the Philippines’ representative said the resolution aimed to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue in achieving peace and stability as well as strengthen constructive dialogue across divergent divides. The resolution also stresses the important role the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United National Alliance of Civilizations play in promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue at all levels, he said.
Bangladesh’s delegate, introducing a text on “Follow‑up to the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace”, noted that it welcomes the High‑level Forum on Culture of Peace held on 13 September 2019, the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action. The Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace continues to find relevance across the three pillars of the United Nations in addressing contemporary global challenges, he said.
A final text designates 20 July as World Chess Day, marking the date in 1924 when the International Chess Federation was established in Paris. Introducing that draft, Armenia’s delegate observed that the game can transcend national boundaries and break down racial, political and social barriers. Armenia, he added, has one of the highest numbers of chess grandmasters per capita in the world, having embraced chess as an academic subject in schools. “One of the most important and enduring lessons that chess can offer is teaching respect,” he said.
Addressing the drafts, delegates warned that clashing cultures are a growing reality in numerous societies, with antisemitism resurfacing and Islamophobia becoming more pervasive. Libya’s representative pointed to waves of violence, displacement, death and destruction due to increases in violent extremism, terrorism and hatred. “It is sad to see flagrant and daily violations of human rights,” he said.
They also observed that the international community today is facing more complex challenges undermining the culture of peace than in the past, including religious tensions and violence. Kuwait’s representative observed that violent extremism is used as a mode of expression on social networks, stressing that the international community must ban content inciting extremism and terrorism.
Also arguing that social media platforms can threaten the culture of peace, Saudi Arabia’s delegate emphasized that using digital messages constructively can achieve the opposite result. Echoing that sentiment, Ecuador’s representative emphasized that the more such media are used to disseminate hate speech the more people must use positive digital missives to counter them.
Several speakers emphasized the importance of quality education and dialogue as tools to forge peaceful understanding between countries and societies. Interreligious and intercultural dialogues with faith leaders, civil society and academia are important for building intellectual and moral solidarity, India’s delegate said. Home to a significant number of practitioners of practically every major religion in the world, his country is a narrative of conversations between different civilizations, he said.
The Assembly decided to postpone action on a draft titled “Investigation into the conditions and circumstances resulting in the tragic death of Dag Hammarskjöld and of the members of the party accompanying him,” noting that it contains a programme budget implication. Adoption of the resolution will take place once the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) has considered the matter later this month.
The Assembly also decided to reschedule its consideration of the “Report of the Credentials Committee” and “Election of members of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission” from Monday, 16 December to Wednesday, 18 December.
The Assembly had before it two reports of the Secretary‑General on "A world against violence and violent extremism," (document A/74/195) and "Promotion of a culture of peace and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace (document A/74/476).
Also speaking today were the representatives of Sweden, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Thailand (on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Venezuela, United Arab Emirates, Maldives, Cuba, Morocco, Panama, Pakistan, Brunei Darussalam, Azerbaijan, Canada, Nicaragua and United States, as well as an observer for the Holy See.
The Assembly will meet again at 3 p.m., on 12 December to consider the reports of its First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).
For further details please see SOURCE below.
MEETINGS COVERAGE
Introducing a draft on “Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace”, the Philippines’ representative said the resolution aimed to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue in achieving peace and stability as well as strengthen constructive dialogue across divergent divides. The resolution also stresses the important role the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United National Alliance of Civilizations play in promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue at all levels, he said.
Bangladesh’s delegate, introducing a text on “Follow‑up to the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace”, noted that it welcomes the High‑level Forum on Culture of Peace held on 13 September 2019, the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action. The Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace continues to find relevance across the three pillars of the United Nations in addressing contemporary global challenges, he said.
A final text designates 20 July as World Chess Day, marking the date in 1924 when the International Chess Federation was established in Paris. Introducing that draft, Armenia’s delegate observed that the game can transcend national boundaries and break down racial, political and social barriers. Armenia, he added, has one of the highest numbers of chess grandmasters per capita in the world, having embraced chess as an academic subject in schools. “One of the most important and enduring lessons that chess can offer is teaching respect,” he said.
Addressing the drafts, delegates warned that clashing cultures are a growing reality in numerous societies, with antisemitism resurfacing and Islamophobia becoming more pervasive. Libya’s representative pointed to waves of violence, displacement, death and destruction due to increases in violent extremism, terrorism and hatred. “It is sad to see flagrant and daily violations of human rights,” he said.
They also observed that the international community today is facing more complex challenges undermining the culture of peace than in the past, including religious tensions and violence. Kuwait’s representative observed that violent extremism is used as a mode of expression on social networks, stressing that the international community must ban content inciting extremism and terrorism.
Also arguing that social media platforms can threaten the culture of peace, Saudi Arabia’s delegate emphasized that using digital messages constructively can achieve the opposite result. Echoing that sentiment, Ecuador’s representative emphasized that the more such media are used to disseminate hate speech the more people must use positive digital missives to counter them.
Several speakers emphasized the importance of quality education and dialogue as tools to forge peaceful understanding between countries and societies. Interreligious and intercultural dialogues with faith leaders, civil society and academia are important for building intellectual and moral solidarity, India’s delegate said. Home to a significant number of practitioners of practically every major religion in the world, his country is a narrative of conversations between different civilizations, he said.
The Assembly decided to postpone action on a draft titled “Investigation into the conditions and circumstances resulting in the tragic death of Dag Hammarskjöld and of the members of the party accompanying him,” noting that it contains a programme budget implication. Adoption of the resolution will take place once the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) has considered the matter later this month.
The Assembly also decided to reschedule its consideration of the “Report of the Credentials Committee” and “Election of members of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission” from Monday, 16 December to Wednesday, 18 December.
The Assembly had before it two reports of the Secretary‑General on "A world against violence and violent extremism," (document A/74/195) and "Promotion of a culture of peace and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace (document A/74/476).
Also speaking today were the representatives of Sweden, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Thailand (on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Venezuela, United Arab Emirates, Maldives, Cuba, Morocco, Panama, Pakistan, Brunei Darussalam, Azerbaijan, Canada, Nicaragua and United States, as well as an observer for the Holy See.
The Assembly will meet again at 3 p.m., on 12 December to consider the reports of its First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).
For further details please see SOURCE below.
MEETINGS COVERAGE
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Topical Subjects
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Parent ID
2513291
Asset ID
2513650