STATEMENT: HIGH-LEVEL FORUM 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION ON A CULTURE OF PEACE “THE CULTURE OF PEACE

Thank you, Madame President.

Malaysia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Charge d’Affaires of the Philippines on behalf of ASEAN.

2.      Twenty years have passed since we adopted the “Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace”. Sadly to say, our world has been haunted with countless human tragedies which occurred one after another since then. The 9/11 catastrophe was followed by the so-called war against terror which had killed thousands of innocent civilians. Many other human tragedies followed in the form of atrocities committed by DAESH, 

civil wars which emerged from the Arab Springs, and today we are seeing the surge of acts of terror committed due to hates emanated from racial and religious discrimination and xenophobia.

3.      Our governments have the responsibilities and the authorities to prevent the recurrence of such tragedy. These tragedies must stop. To stop it, we must mobilise our collective efforts and implement the provisions of our 1999 Declaration and its Programme of Action with full conviction. It is important for us, the international community to promote tolerance, inclusion, reconciliation, mutual understanding, respect and solidarity, in our common desire to live and act together in peace and harmony.

4.      Malaysia strongly believes the lack of knowledge about other racial and religious communities have undeniably contributed to the growing hatred and animosity. Our differences would be embraced when we learn to accept and appreciate the diversity, distinctiveness, and uniqueness of others.

5.      Malaysia therefore calls on all members of the United Nations to seriously promote inter-cultural and interfaith dialogue. Undoubtedly 

dialogues play a vital role in promoting peace, moderation and religious tolerance.

Madam President,

6.      Malaysia welcomes the UN Strategy and Plan of Action (POA) on Hate Crimes launched by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last June and UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites just yesterday, 12 September 2019. Malaysia also lauds the efforts of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in facilitating the universal discussion on living together in diversity, preventing intercultural crises and mobilising broad public support for cultural diversity, tolerance and inclusion to prevent attacks against and guarantee the sanctity of religious sites and worships.

7.      We truly appreciate the Secretary General’s commitment in addressing this issue and hope that the international community would take his call seriously in order for us to create global peace and harmony.

8.      As a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, Malaysia firmly believes that moderation, respect and tolerance in our diversity contributes to our 

social harmony which becomes an integral part in Malaysia’s efforts to promote development which is sustainable and inclusive of all communities.

9.      Let me conclude by assuring all Member States, all stakeholders and all our partners, of Malaysia’s full commitment to our common goals of achieving a sustainable and peaceful world. We trust that today’s commemorative event will convey to the world our strong conviction against the extent of destruction that can be brought about by war and violence, and on the importance of promoting empathy among people of different cultures, religions and civilizations.

I thank you, Madame President.