Media Center

The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage hosted, on 13 November 2018, “ The National Forum on Enhancing Peace Culture and Cultural Diversity Management”. The forum is organized in cooperation with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Bahrain National Education, Science and Culture Committee and Bahrain’s Authority for Culture & Antiquities.

At the beginning of the forum session, Dr. Lobna Khalifa Suleibikh, Secretary-General of The National Committee for Education, Science and Culture, welcomed on Behalf of ISESCO, the participants and introduced the Forum’s speakers. Bahraini speakers included, H.E Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director-General of Culture & Arts, at the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, and H.E Shaikh Khalid Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Constitutional Court Media & International Relations Director.

The first session started with a speech presentation by H.E Shaikh Khalid Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, titled “ Bahrain’s Civic and Democratic Foundations for Anchoring Values of Citizenship, Social Peace and Cultural Diversity Respect”, shedding lights on the history of democracy in Bahrain and the aspects of legislative and political actions as endorsed by Bahraini Law and Constitution.

H.E Shaikh Khalid Bin Isa Al-Khalifa said that Bahrain is considered as a perfect environment for peace and justice, asserting that the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, May God Protect Him, has attained a lot of achievements, and that such gains and accomplishments will be optimized. H.E added that Bahrain, under the leadership of HM the King, is on the right track to build on and optimize the landmark achievements in all fields of life attained during HM King Hamad’s prosperous era.

During her intervention at the Forum’s second session, H.E Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director-General of Culture & Arts, at the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, stressed the importance of the mission carried out by civil society organizations to spread the values of peace and respect for cultural diversity. H.E gave examples of successful co-existence as reflected by Bahrain Culture Authority, pointing out to the different civilizations that have inhabited the land of Bahrain since times immemorial. H.E also shed lights on BACA’s role to provide all the necessary means required for communities’ development. A number of periodical cultural initiatives organized by BACA were cited by H.E Shaikha Hala, such as Ta’a Al Shabab’s Festival, Bahrain Summer Festival and Food Is Culture initiative, which combined seek to reach a sustainable cultural development action and raising the level social awareness.

The forum’s third session was animated by government representatives who presented paper works reflecting the official governmental efforts to enhance the culture of peace and management of cultural diversity. Thus, Ms. Najwa Abdullatif. Janahi, Director of Non-Government Organizations’ Support at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development presented a paper work showing the mechanisms of conflict management. Then, a presentation by Shura Council deputy, Mr. Mosin Al Gheriri, shedding lights on Shura Council efforts to enhance and promote the culture of peace. The session ended with an intervention by H.E Shaikha Muneera bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director of Youth Affairs in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, demonstrating how the Ministry’s vision and its efforts are in harmony with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Worth to mention that the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage hosted also yesterday, 12 November 2018, another forum on “ Enhancing the Culture of Tolerance in Media Discourse”, in cooperation with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Bahrain National Education, Science and Culture Committee and Bahrain’s Authority for Culture & Antiquities