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Islamabad, May 21, 2013 (PPI-OT): A world of peace and solidarity can only be accomplished by acknowledging and celebrating our diversity. On this day, and throughout our lives, let us take steps – small and large, with families and friends, old and new – that will strengthen bonds, deepen our understanding of the value of cultural diversity and help us to live together better,” Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary General in his electronic message has said, to mark this year’s observance of the World Day for Cultural Diversity.
The UN system in Pakistan led by UNESCO, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office and UN Women are partnering with a group of civil society representatives from specific backgrounds to promote awareness and education on the tolerance, equality, inclusion and dialogue in a special event that draws lessons from recent national happenings.
At a dialogue held in partnership with the National University of Science Technology (NUST) and their students; a diverse group of discussants comprising students, faculty members from universities across the city, human rights defenders, media representatives, members from religious-ethnic-disability and sexual minority groups and the UN, to share their experiences on issues related to equality, participation and inclusion, from May 11th national elections.
Highlighting the critical importance of the day, Kozue Kay Nagata, Director/Representative UNESCO Pakistan asserted, “The objective is to educate students to be able to defend against what is seen as a commodification – considered harmful to a disadvantaged culture — supporting its development through promotion operations as protecting human rights of minorities.”
Further elaborating upon her point further, Neill Wright (UNHCR), Officer-In-Charge Resident Coordinator of ONE UN in Pakistan mentioned that for the UN in Pakistan, harnessing the gains of interaction with and amongst diverse groups to boost shared goals of social cohesion and the improvement of the quality of life of every individual is a crucial priority.
The panel discussion encompassed the stocktaking from different minority groups as reflection on recent elections and had representatives such as; Veeru Kohli, a contestant in Recent elections from Secluded Hindu minority, Romana Bashir, consultant of ‘Council for Inter-religious Dialogue’ for Pope Benedict, Awais Ali representative from Disable Persons organization STEP, Almas Bobby, Representative of Transgender community in Pakistan and Aamina Qadir from UNWOMEN. The interactive panel discussion let students learn from panelists regarding the issues of cultural minorities in Pakistan.
Further to the adoption of UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in November 2001, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 21 May as World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (Resolution 57/249 to highlight the importance of the values of equality, social justice, peace and solidarity.
The campaign calls on all people – from youth to policy-makers, from religious leaders to journalists, entrepreneurs and others who shape opinions and trends – to speak up for the spiritual, social and economic wealth we derive from cultural diversity.
For more information, contact:
Ms. Ishrat Rizvi
National Information Officer
United Nations Information Centre (UNIC)
Islamabad
Tel: +9251 835 5720
Cell: +92300 855 3790
Email: ishrat.rizvi@unic.org