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H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa,  President of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities  has taken part in the 2nd edition of International Institute for Tolerance in Dubai (IIT), which held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with the theme “Tolerance in Multiculturalism: Achieving the Social, Economic and Humane Benefits of a Tolerant World”, on 13-14 November 2019. 

The International Institute for Tolerance in Dubai (IIT), as part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, is organizing the second edition of World Tolerance Summit with the participation of around 3,000 participants from over 100 countries that include top level officials, peace experts, diplomats, youth,  distinguished speakers and specialists.

H.E Shaikha Mai said during her intervention at conference : “  Our Arab societies and countries are facing tremendous challenges, which are a real  threat to the cultural identity and memory”. H.E has stressed the importance of the protection of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the Arab countries for building strong cohesive affluent societies, that can contribute to sustainable peace and security at all levels, internally and internationally.

H.E has also pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain has deployed strenuous efforts to preserve and safeguard historical and heritage sites, locally and regionally, in cooperation with the concerned international specialized organizations. H.E added that  the Kingdom of Bahrain hosts the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage-Bahrain, a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO,  since 2012. The ARC-WH center has contributed hugely to the protection and safeguard of many Arab cities and archaeological sites threatened by current violent events and armed operations, such as the protection implementation of the historical city of  Zobeid, Yemen,  hosting the International Soqotra Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Soqotra, which has a unique and rare world  high level of biodiversity and is rich in endemic marine, animals and plants. The ARC-WH also held a number of workshops and training sessions for site directors and experts in Iraq to enhance the efforts aimed at nominating Iraqi al Ahwar and Babylon sites, in collaboration with World Monuments Fund (WMF), H.E added.

H.E expressed her sincere wishes that this international conference would shed lights on the importance of a sustainable peace that would materialize the initiatives in real life in all countries, facing unrest and violent events affecting the safety and security of their social fabrics, their identities and their cultures. H.E ended her intervention by affirming that culture is still considered the best option to overcome all challenges that are facing Arab societies these days.
 
Participants in this summit will discuss  ways and means to  promote tolerance, by spreading its principles, encouraging acceptance of others without discrimination, and by sending a message of love and peace to all parts of the world to emphasize the role it plays in the promotion of dialogue and understanding between religions, as well as the promotion of principles of human rights, mutual respect, security and peace of mind by promoting interfaith and intercultural understanding. The conference will also  focus on how education and knowledge-sharing can be a powerful tool to raise awareness raise awareness on tolerance in diversity. The conference will analyze issues vital to the promotion of tolerance and peaceful co-existence, and its impact on the social fabric of the society. A microcosm of society, women, youth, educators, employees, students, artists, government officials,  will join the conference to share their insights on building a tolerant society.

 More than 70 speakers will address the summit to be held on 13-14 November at various sessions, as well as around 1,000 students from across various universities and schools in the UAE are expected to attend the summit. The event will be a platform for the student community to share their projects to promote tolerance in the society.