Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Tolerance will collaborate with individuals, institutions, local and federal government departments in the country to make tolerance a way of life, a top official from the Ministry of Tolerance said on Monday.
To achieve the goals, the Ministry organised its first forum in the capital to interact with its stakeholders, partners and different government entities. Now they will come up with different ideas and plans, which the ministry will implement in cooperation with different entities across the country.
About 45 federal and local government entities of the country including private sectors and over 120 intellectuals, cultural leaders took part in the forum to discuss different modalities of spreading tolerance to individuals, homes and offices in the country.
The first forum was themed as “strengthening the role of government as an incubator for tolerance”.
Addressing the forum, Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, said: “This is the first forum on tolerance and I hope from all our stakeholders in the country to come up with ideas and suggestions to better achieve results of tolerance in all sections of the society.”
He said the tolerance is about being secure in your own culture and belief, so that you respond to what is different with curiosity and compassion rather than with fear and intolerance.”
He asserted that the UAE is strongly committed to learning about all useful and successful ideas and experiences for promoting tolerance around the globe. “We have clear plans for cooperation with all individuals and institutions.”
“We are dedicated to strengthening the values of the country and preventing extremism, and eradicating discrimination, hate, violence and terrorism.”
In that context, he referred the National Programme for Tolerance, which was approved by the Cabinet last year.
The programme has five themes which include strengthening of the government’s role as an incubator of tolerance, focusing on the role of the strong family in building a tolerant society, promoting tolerance among youth and protecting them from extremism, enriching the intellectual understanding through research and producing material related to tolerance.
“The ministry has prepared plans for addressing all of these five themes,” Shaikh Nahyan said.
The effective promotion of tolerance requires the active engagement and participation of all country’s stakeholders, the government, its citizens, non-citizens and residents, he said.
Recognising contributions
For recognising private sectors’ contributions to the community-based activities, the minister also honoured a number of them with certificates.
Y.Sudhir Shetty, president of UAE Exchange, who bagged three recognitions, said: “It’s social responsibility for New Medical Centre, UAE Exchange and Indian Business and Professional Group to support the community activities along with government. Since past three consecutive years we partnered with the ministry to organise events for workers on International Labour Day.”
“Shaikh Nahyan launched a cricket cup for all workers of the country, which shows that they are engaged outside of their work environment. It show tolerance to all sections of the community,” Shetty said.
Annu Chouraria, president of Indian Ladies Association (ILA), was also felicitated with a certificate for participation in an initiative called “Together in the Emirates of Zayed’ on the occasion of International Labour Day.
“ILA believes in the virtues of sharing and caring and our acts shall resonate our shared values of peace, harmony, inclusion and reverence for community,” she said.
