UN official says recent terror attacks represent ‘exact opposite’ of values of peace, stability

The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Nassir Al-Nasser, said today that the “vicious forces” of extremism, violence and terrorism should not hamper international efforts to prevent and combat such forces.

“Peace, stability, intercultural harmony and sustainable development are closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing,” said Mr. Al-Nasser in a press statement released today which spoke of new and emerging ideological threats of the 21st century. “They are key factors to accomplishing an environment conducive to prosperity and human rights. Therefore, we need to protect our future and our generations from the forces that fuel tensions, hatred and violence.”

The High Representative cited several recent terrorist attacks around the world as an portraying the “exact opposite” of the core values that should prevail among peaceful communities and said increasing religious-based intolerance had led to targeted killings of innocent people from different faiths and the perpetuation of stereotyping, xenophobia and racism.

He stressed that such acts violated the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and International Law and ran counter to the values of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, which embraces as its core mission the promotion of cultural diversity, religious tolerance, and inclusiveness.

“These values are best promoted through, peaceful and meaningful dialogue in accordance with universally accepted norms and shared values,” he said, adding that existing UN resolutions, along with other international and regional instruments, provide the international community with legal and moral tools to prevent and combat conditions conducive to the spread of extremism, violence and terrorism.

“Sadly and despite the efforts made, certain ideological mind-sets continue to project their uncivilized face in our world,” he said, calling for universally agreed parameters to combat hate speech and incitement in all their forms.

He added that further efforts to prevent tackle such extremism should range from measures to reform the UN to better adherence to international law.

“Preventive action should entail the empowerment and reform of the relevant existing instruments needed by the International Community to respond to and cope with the new and emerging ideological threats, for the sake of our collective security and Human Rights for all,” he said.