Mrs. Warda: Religion is a sign of love, solidarity, fraternity and compassion, not a tool of hatred and grudge
- In speeches and interventions, Ministers, academics and human rights activists focus on the values that should safeguard human dignity
Mrs. Pascale Warda, Chairwoman of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization (HHRO), Former Minister of Migration and Displaced, participated in the work of the Conference held in the Lebanese capital Beirut on 12/12/2018 at the hall of Gamal Abdel Nasser at Beirut Arab University (BAU).
In her intervention, Mrs. Pascale Warda addressed the role of religion in the fight against hatred, which is the same address, pointing out that those who have the values of faith, spiritual landmarks and human rights can be a base of action, education and guidance to cultivate love, fraternity and solidarity among citizens regardless of their religious and sectarian affiliations.
In her lecture, Mrs. Warda said that the use of religion to spread hatred and grudge is a blatant departure from the will of the Lord and a despicable attempt to deflect religion from its original human missions in refining the human personality. In this context, she called for a reconsideration of all religious ideas which does not take human value into consideration because religion is a great treasure of true human spirit.
The conference program included a speech by Mrs. Rowayda Al-Haj, the regional representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights / Middle East and North Africa Office, and the speech of Professor Amr Galal El-Adawi President of Beirut Arab University, and the speech of MP. Michel Moussa, Member of Lebanese Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights and the speech of Ayman Choucair Minister of the State for Human Rights and a videotaped message for Mr. Andrew Gilmour, Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights on countering acts of intimidation against cooperation with the United Nations in the field of human rights, social media and the arts against the speech of hate "Promoting Positive Messages".
The session was moderated by Mrs. Rowayda Al-Haj and Mr. Retha Abdul Aziz lawyer and regional human rights trainer.
The Secretary General of Beirut Arab University Dr. Omar Houry, discussed the legislative and political measures that countries in the region are putting forward to combat the speech of hate through social media and whether there is any balance between these measures and the protection of expression freedom.
The media personality and the writer Zahi Wehbe discussed the role of social media as a tool for spreading the speech of hate. Mrs. Mervat Rishmawi, a human rights activist, discussed the efforts and practices of civil society to fight the speech of hate through social media. Mr. Habib Benkoosh the expert in the field of human rights discussed the role of culture to fight the speech of hate.
Mrs. Jumana Mar'i, a human rights activist, discussed the role of women in media and arts to fight the speech of hate.
On the sidelines of the conference, 30 personalities around the world were honored including Mrs. Pascale Warda for their distinction as human rights defenders by a decision of the UN Human Rights Council of the Middle East and North Africa Office (MENA).
