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As part of the international community’s celebrations of UN’s International Day of Tolerance that promotes respect and appreciation for the world’s rich variety of cultures, histories, religions, forms of expression, and ways of being human, the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage-Bahrain, hosted , on 18 November 2018 a special event, in cooperation with the United Nations (UN) Media Centre for the Arabian Gulf Countries and Bahai Social Society.

For this occasion, Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, said in her message for the International Day for Tolerance “On this International Day for Tolerance, let us remember that cultural diversity is part of the fabric of human society. It is a strength and a driver of development. It is an asset from which we can all benefit, provided that we learn to understand one another, that we are able to see what is universal to all cultures, and that we adopt an attitude of tolerance toward what might at first seem foreign to us.” Ms Azoulay added saying “Tolerance should not be understood as an endurance of people whose characteristics differ from our own; rather, it should be understood as a readiness to respect and appreciate others, to fully grasp the value of other cultures, and to recognize the inalienable equal rights of all human beings”, pointing out to the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance, adopted by UNESCO in 1995: “Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human.”
H.E Ibrahim Bin Hmood Al-Khalifa, Deputy Director of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), started the ceremony saying “ On behalf of H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Regional Arab Centre for World Heritage welcome to this ceremony which reflects the Center’s keenness and strong belief in celebrating the International Tolerance Day”. H.E added that the center aims at raising awareness in the Arab countries about the common and shared values by all humans and civilizations, enhancing thus the peaceful co-existence.
Mr. Samir Aldarabi, Director of the United Nations Information Centre for Gulf Countries, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the person in charge of the ARC-WH Center, H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, for the strenuous efforts and constructive work to promote and spread values of tolerance and communication between different cultures and civilizations. Aldarabi stressed the importance of tolerance values, especially within the current increasing conflicts and tensions in our modern world caused by ignoring the rights of others to live freely indiscriminately. He added that Tolerance means recognizing the basic and essentials freedoms of human beings and guarantees differences and mixed societies.
Saudi Academic Consultant, Mr. Mamdooh Mawheba, shed lights on ways and means of enhancing tolerance values in the Arab societies, pointing out to the unique Bahraini exception and its achievements heralded by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa , May God Protect Him.

Mr. Mamdooh Mawheba added that the values of tolerance and mutual understanding – so firmly embedded in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – are facing profound tests around the world, given the increasing armed conflicts triggered by intellectual and cultural differences. However, an international common movements to enhance the values of tolerance in the world have also been witnessed in recent years. Mr. Mamdooh Mawheba said that countries should seek to build bridges of communication in order to enhance and achieve tolerance objectives and goals, using all means available towards this aim and sharing this unique experience with all social categories and private-public institutions.
Dr. Fawaz Al-Sherooqi, said that too many armed conflicts have sectarian dimensions; too many societal disputes break down along communal lines, and that ‘today’s global challenges should compel us to reject the failed mindset of “us” versus “them”. National achievements of a peaceful society would see the world and all its possibilities through the prism of “we the peoples”, he added.
The ceremony, animated by journalist and media figure, Sumia al Meer, also included an artistic music show by Bahai Social Society, titled “ Unity in Diversity” performed by a selection of Bahraini children who sung together the hymn of loving diversity amid tolerant society.

The event ceremony reflects the UN International Day for Tolerance, which is a time for people to learn about respecting and recognizing the rights and beliefs of others. It is also a time of reflection and debate on the negative effects of intolerance. Indeed, in 1996, the UN General Assembly (by resolution 51/95) invited UN Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November. This action followed up on the United Nations Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 at the initiative of UNESCO, as outlined in the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the Year. “Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human.” UNESCO's 1995 Declaration of Principles on Tolerance. Then, the United Nations declared November 16 as the International Day for Tolerance. Marking International Day of Tolerance, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) awarded its 2018 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize to social entrepreneur and filmmaker Manon Barbeau of Canada, and to the Coexist Initiative, a non-profit organization working to end violence against women in Kenya.