The United Arab Emirates recently announced its national strategy of tolerance; this is a giant leap towards further societal cohesion, co-existence, peace and harmony as it will shun any kind of racial, class, sectoral prejudice in the country. While providing equal rights to its citizens it will further strengthen the UAE’s golden traditions of brotherhood, forgiveness, accommodation and respect of humanity. It ultimately it stands for social justice.
The Middle East region is now passing through a difficult time because of so many conflicting issues and trends relating to political supremacy, faith orientation, sect domination, geographical compulsion and economic gains/dividends. In the region, ethics and respect of humanity has been badly violated to gain a lion’s share at any cost. Tolerance has reached a deadly zero level. In this era of societal inflexibility and faith marginalization, the UAE national strategy of tolerance is a “ray of hope”.
Its aim is of developing policies to promote tolerance locally, regionally and internationally. The programme also establishes a UAE Tolerance Centre, aimed at creating and disseminating scientific approach to resolve any issue. It will be based on seven pillars and is aimed at promoting values of peaceful coexistence in the country in every walk of life.
The United Arab Emirates cabinet has approved a “National Tolerance Programme” as a basis for building societies and promoting values of peaceful coexistence. The National Strategy of Tolerance was given the green light at a cabinet meeting chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
HH Sheikh Mohammed said: “Tolerance is a key value of our ancestors and our founding fathers. The UAE has succeeded in spreading it throughout the Arab region and the world. Tolerance is the basis for building societies and promoting values of peaceful coexistence. Today we need to be more tolerant and united to face the changes happening around us”.
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, also attended the meeting. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the new Minister of State for Tolerance, said the programme was based on many distinguished philosophies.
Sheikha Lubna, the State Minister of Tolerance said that these values would help UAE society to continue building tolerance, multiculturalism and a culture of acceptance of others, while rejecting attitudes of discrimination and hatred.
It is a comprehensive strategy to promote peace, harmony and brotherhood through different policies of tolerance and will definitely shun elements of hatred, discrimination, prejudice and partiality in the country. It would promote openness, equality and above all true spirits of Islam in the country, region and beyond.
It has also been decided that programme will be implemented in collaboration with federal and local entities/departments under five main themes which are given below in a diagram
Moreover, members of UAE society will also be elected as ‘voices of tolerance’ to drive campaigns against racism and hatred through activities, events and social media. It would be interactive and productive and promote productive channels. It would promote multiculturalism in society which is the secret of survival in the today world. It would promote spirits of universalism in the country. It would spread sense of collectivism. It would further strengthen UAE family values. It would reject attitudes of discrimination and taking everybody along on the path of nation-building. It would marginalize elements of radicalism in the society.
UAE is the hub of more than 200 nationalities. They all live and work in the UAE, and consider it as their second home which is indeed a great tribute to the egalitarian policies of the country’s leadership. Based on the themes of compassion and benevolence, the UAE strives to unite all under the single umbrella of humanity.
The new strategy will promote culture of togetherness and acceptance of others and help shun the sense of otherness and believing in joint teamwork for the cause of national development. Everybody has its sway in the system. It promotes sense of responsibility that is rooted in fraternity and cooperation. It has further strengthened the UAE leading role in the field of tolerance too. Now UAE has unique model of tolerance and its doctrine of coexistence is another step towards building a welfare state for all.
The announcement comes at the perfect time of the year. As was noted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Ramadan is “a great opportunity to spread the spirit of tolerance and show the real image of moderation, and respect for others”. Tolerance is celebrated in Islamic culture as a basic principle on all levels: individual, groups and states.
It was also decided that the newly announced programme would target young people and work on steering them away from extremist ideologies. This objective has been in place in UAE schools for some time and will be bolstered under the new scheme.
Concluding Remarks
UAE has announced its well prepared and documented “National Strategy of Tolerance” which shows its visionary leadership’s strong political will to fight against terrorism and extremism by promoting spirits of tolerance. UAE’s tolerance policy is based on peace, co-existence and harmony, it stands of equality, social justice and brotherhood. It is anti-discriminatory, anti-hatred and prejudice and promotes togetherness and shuns otherness. It stands for collective wisdom and further strengthening of UAE family values. It respects humanity and shuns all kinds of discriminations in the society which is not even good for the country but also for the region and world alike. It supports multiculturalism, and universalism in the country. It is pro development and anti to all disastrous issues and trends born out of prejudice and discrimination.
UAE National Strategy of Tolerance outlines different policies and programs to be implemented to achieve the desired goal of tolerance and peace in the country. It would provide a “national narrative” against terrorism and extremism in the country. It has all answers to all those conflicting realities spreading like a wildfire in and around the region about disintegration and discrimination.
UAE is the symbol of peace and hub of tolerance in all respects. It has pioneering role in promoting tolerance, peace and coexistence led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
