REMARKS OF H.E. MR. NASSIR ABDULAZIZ AL-NASSER
HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS
AT THE CONCERT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
GENEVA – 10 DECEMBER, 2016, 530 PM
Your Excellency, Mr. Michael Moller
Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva
Your Ecellency, Mr. Coi Kyonglim
President of the Untied Nations Human Rights Council
Your Excellency, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Your Excellency, Mr Miguel Moratinos
President of ONUART Foundation
Good evening,
What a beautiful evening and a magnificent setting. I am very pleased to be here again for the second year in a row. I would like to thank my friend Miguel Moratinos and his foundation for organizing again what is expected to be a memorable evening.
I also thank Maestro Daniel Barenboim, UN Messenger of Peace and his orchestra the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra which had been designated earlier this year as a Global Advocate for cultural understanding.
This magnificent room carries the name of the organization I lead, The Alliance of Civilizations as well as Human Rights. This evening we can reflect on 2 things: what more we can do to advance human rights and what more can we do to promote cultural understanding and tolerance. I see that both objectives are intertwined. Respect of human rights and dignity is a cornerstone for peace, security and sustainable development. We need to remind ourselves everyday of these values, particularly when polarization between cultures is high and the wave of violent extremism is on the rise.
With the peace process deadlocked, it is really heartening to see young Arab and Israeli musicians replacing the noise of violence with the sounds of harmonious music.
I am confident that both people want peace. This past month, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations sponsored a summit in Alicante , Spain for religious leaders from Israel and the Palestinian territories . They talked together peace.
So I am certain that as long as we seek to build bridges of understanding either through music or through dialogue, we can attain the ultimate goal of peace.
Violence and hate speech will lead to vicious circle of more violence. We should stop it. We should acknowledge that together we are stronger. We should embrace diversity and see richness rather than fear.
I would like to note that this does not apply to the Israeli Palestinian conflict only. With the rising wave of populist sentiments and xenophobic rhetoric against migrants in general, the United Nations is spearheading an initiative to promote diversity and acceptance of refugees and migrants. It is simply called “TOGETHER” because it is together with the UN, member states, the private sector and civil society that we can change attitudes towards refugees and migrants and turn fear into hope. UNAOC is proud to be among the working group contributing to this campaign which the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki moon announced this past September.
We have a lot to do. But when we work together, everything is easier and possible.
I believe the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is a success story towards that end.
Ladies & Gentlemen, in this spirit of togetherness let’s enjoy the music.