ID :
174174
Fri, 04/08/2011 - 19:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/174174
The shortlink copeid
Azerbaijan's First Lady: Azerbaijan is known as country open to world since ancient times till today
TREND-April,8-The World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue continued its agenda in the Gulustan palace of Baku with the next session focus "The role of women in intercultural dialogue" today.
The First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO goodwill ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva attended the session.
The session chaired by Mrs.Aliyeva and Director of the UNESCO Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue Katerina Stenou discussed the definition of theoretical and practical framework to enhance women’s role in public life as basic parties to the intercultural dialogue.
Opening the session, Mrs.Aliyeva welcomed guests and spoke about the importance of the forum. Aliyeva stressed that Baku has become a center of the intercultural dialogue in recent years. "Taking a tour to the past, we can list a number of international events. Baku hosted the World Summit of Religious Leaders in 2010. Baku was declared the capital of Islamic culture in 2009. It became a venue for a meeting of the culture ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in 2009 and a meeting of the Culture Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2008. The country also hosted the International Women's Conference in 2008 with representatives from all continents. The conference adopted the Baku Declaration on the women’ role in intercultural dialogue," Aliyeva said.
Mrs.Aliyeva spoke about existing solid foundation, as well as a favorable environment for conducting such activities in Azerbaijan. "From ancient times to the present day Azerbaijan is known as a country open to the world . One can be witness of a high tolerance dominating in our country from the first minutes of communication with our citizens. Muslim mosque, a Catholic church, Orthodox Church and Jewish synagogue that are located alongside in Baku is evidence to this."
She expressed hope that views and suggestions voiced at the Forum and the results of the event will make a worthy contribution to the strengthening of the intercultural dialogue.
In turn, Stenou stressed the importance of this session aimed at identifying theoretical and practical framework to enhance the role of women as key participants of the intercultural dialogue. In this sense, the intercultural dialogue is a sustained process based on universal values. This is an extremely hot topic, as co-existence under peaceful conditions requires understanding and moving away from the existing stereotypes and prejudices by all members of the public. Culture impacts attitudes to gender issues and activities in this direction. Culture plays a major role in search for a sustainable means for gender equality and equity.
Deputy Chairman of Russian Federal Assembly Federation Council Svetlana Orlova, Mayor of 7th district of Paris, Rachida Datin, and Director of the U.S. Center for Intercultural Dialogue Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz also addressed the event. They stressed that different political, social and cultural issues existing in the world have a lot of common points. Moreover, there exist differences in opinions and some difficulties.
Speakers urged to take a fair approach to the diversity of experiences and women’s wishes, and use this diversity and expand the dialogue in an attempt to increase the intercultural dialogue. This requires deeper understanding of the essence of intercultural dialogue associated with women, study of its types and the obstacles it faces. This is especially important in education, science, research, media and culture.
The First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO goodwill ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva attended the session.
The session chaired by Mrs.Aliyeva and Director of the UNESCO Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue Katerina Stenou discussed the definition of theoretical and practical framework to enhance women’s role in public life as basic parties to the intercultural dialogue.
Opening the session, Mrs.Aliyeva welcomed guests and spoke about the importance of the forum. Aliyeva stressed that Baku has become a center of the intercultural dialogue in recent years. "Taking a tour to the past, we can list a number of international events. Baku hosted the World Summit of Religious Leaders in 2010. Baku was declared the capital of Islamic culture in 2009. It became a venue for a meeting of the culture ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in 2009 and a meeting of the Culture Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2008. The country also hosted the International Women's Conference in 2008 with representatives from all continents. The conference adopted the Baku Declaration on the women’ role in intercultural dialogue," Aliyeva said.
Mrs.Aliyeva spoke about existing solid foundation, as well as a favorable environment for conducting such activities in Azerbaijan. "From ancient times to the present day Azerbaijan is known as a country open to the world . One can be witness of a high tolerance dominating in our country from the first minutes of communication with our citizens. Muslim mosque, a Catholic church, Orthodox Church and Jewish synagogue that are located alongside in Baku is evidence to this."
She expressed hope that views and suggestions voiced at the Forum and the results of the event will make a worthy contribution to the strengthening of the intercultural dialogue.
In turn, Stenou stressed the importance of this session aimed at identifying theoretical and practical framework to enhance the role of women as key participants of the intercultural dialogue. In this sense, the intercultural dialogue is a sustained process based on universal values. This is an extremely hot topic, as co-existence under peaceful conditions requires understanding and moving away from the existing stereotypes and prejudices by all members of the public. Culture impacts attitudes to gender issues and activities in this direction. Culture plays a major role in search for a sustainable means for gender equality and equity.
Deputy Chairman of Russian Federal Assembly Federation Council Svetlana Orlova, Mayor of 7th district of Paris, Rachida Datin, and Director of the U.S. Center for Intercultural Dialogue Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz also addressed the event. They stressed that different political, social and cultural issues existing in the world have a lot of common points. Moreover, there exist differences in opinions and some difficulties.
Speakers urged to take a fair approach to the diversity of experiences and women’s wishes, and use this diversity and expand the dialogue in an attempt to increase the intercultural dialogue. This requires deeper understanding of the essence of intercultural dialogue associated with women, study of its types and the obstacles it faces. This is especially important in education, science, research, media and culture.
