Democracy vital for dialogue between world’s civilizations, says UNESCO chief
Globalization has made dialogue between the world’s civilizations crucial, but such a process must be based on the full panoply of human rights, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has said.
Globalization has made dialogue between the world’s civilizations crucial, but such a process must be based on the full panoply of human rights, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has said.
“The processes of globalization, by creating an unprecedented framework of meetings and interactions among peoples, have rendered the building of bridges among civilizations, cultures and peoples absolutely vital,” UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura told an international conference, which opened yesterday at the agency’s headquarters in Paris.
“Such dialogue must by necessity be soundly based on democracy, human rights and basic liberties, the sole guarantors of lasting peace and development and indispensable conditions for reconciliation,” he added.
More than 300 participants, including eminent academics and decisions makers from the Arab region, Asia, Europe and the United States are attending the International Conference on the Dialogue among Civilizations, Cultures and Peoples.