UN holds virtual forum on HRH Premier’s International Day of Conscience

Manama, Apr. 8 (BNA): The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), organised, in cooperation with the Centre for Sustainable Development at the Columbia University, USA, and the Court of HRH Premier, a video conference forum marking the International Day of Conscience. High-profile international figures, including the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations, Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé, Shaikh Hussam bin Isa Al Khalifa, in addition to a number of international officials and peace ambassadors accredited by the United Nations, participated in the forum. The forum focused on the significance and importance of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa’s initiative on launching the International Day of Conscience and his address to the world on this occasion, in which he called for strengthening the role of the conscience as a human value that preserves human dignity and supports the efforts of International Community to achieve global peace, security and stability. A group of politicians, intellectuals and researchers in various political, economic and sustainable development fields were keen to participate in the forum despite the circumstances the world is currently going through as a result of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The participants touched on the role played by the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to mobilise global efforts towards creating good conditions for the development process to proceed so that humanity enjoys prosperity and stability, as part of its unwavering interest in sustainable development issues. Speakers during the forum included the UN Deputy Secretary-General, UNESCO Assistant Director-General, High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations, former UN General Assembly President, María Fernanda Espinosa, UN High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth, Alaa Murabit, renowned American actor and producer, Michael Kirk Douglas, and UN Messenger of Peace, Dr. Jane Goodall. There were also statements by Former French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, as well as by Tanzanian MP and former Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Anna Tibaijuka. The forum was moderated by the Director at the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and President of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Professor Jeffrey Sachs. He is a world-renowned economic development expert, and has published many books on sustainable development. His books are taught at the most prestigious American universities. Addressing the virtual forum, Shaikh Hussam bin Isa Al Khalifa conveyed greetings and appreciation from His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to the participants, and to all those who have contributed to supporting his initiative on the International Day of Conscience and turning it into reality. Shaikh Hussam bin Isa highlighted the sublime values embedded in HRH the Prime Minister’s message to the world marking the International Day of Conscience, including the Premier’s calls and visions on the importance of ‘Global Conscience’ as a value that addresses everything that poses a threat the future of humanity, and seeks to achieve the common goals for the sake of a world in which peace and harmony prevail. He also indicated that HRH Premier had urged the International Community to shoulder its responsibilities in providing the requirements of peace, growth and stability, amid the current circumstances and the big challenge the entire world is facing as a result of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the heavy losses it has inflicted. Shaikh Hussam pointed out that HRH the Prime Minister’s initiative to observe an International Day of Conscience emanates from the values of compassion and love established by the Islamic religion, adding that HRH Premier believes that conscience is the light and hope that lead to consolidating love, cooperation and sustainable development. Shaikh Hussam extended thanks to all the participants in the virtual forum, expressing hope that the International Day of Conscience will contribute to promoting the values that bolster cooperation among peoples. Mrs. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, said the ultimate goal of the International Day of Conscience is to build a culture of peace through love, based on international cooperation, solidarity and respect for human rights. The first celebration of the International Day of Conscience comes at a moment when the world is facing a humanitarian crisis unparalleled in the history of the United Nations, she said. This calls for work on the need to achieve the goals of this Day as a way to mobilise the efforts of the International Community to regularly enhance inclusiveness and human solidarity to succeed in overcoming the coronavirus, she added. She pointed out that the epidemic confirms the importance of interdependence among all countries and reminds us that we are all part of one human family. This can be overcome only by strengthening and intensifying collective and international efforts in confronting it. The Deputy Secretary-General stressed the importance of adopting more sustainable development methodologies than ever before in order to gain better knowledge and intensify efforts. She called for enhancing global resilience in the face of this catastrophic crisis and its negative repercussions on societies and peoples around the world. World-renowned economics professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director at Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and President of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network stressed the importance of celebrating the International Day of Conscience as a way to invigorate human spirit, build a culture of peace, and inspire the principles of the United Nations Charter and the International Declaration of Human Rights. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to Bahrain for its leading role in supporting peace efforts and international understanding and for the initiative of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister for the International Day of Conscience. We are grateful to the Kingdom of Bahrain for bringing us together on this occasion, he said. Professor Sachs pointed out that, according to the United Nations resolution declaring the International Day of Conscience, the adoption of this day aims to mobilise the efforts of the International Community to promote peace, tolerance, understanding and solidarity in order to build a sustainable world. He stressed that the world is living an unprecedented historical moment and facing a difficult crisis after the coronavirus killed more than 70,000 people and infected about 1.3 million, resulting in huge economic losses for all countries. He stressed the importance of paying attention to the conditions of the poor classes severely affected by the virus and the loss of jobs and monthly incomes and now have to secure their needs of food, drink and healthcare. He pointed out that the billions of dollars that the rich countries have donated to combat the coronavirus epidemic is an obligation. We need urgent funds and financial subsidies for the developing and disadvantaged countries to help them face this grinding crisis, he added. UN High-Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, praised HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa's International Day of Conscience initiative, noting that it aims to promote a culture of peace through love and conscience. The celebration of the International Day of Conscience, in its first edition, confirms the keenness of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to promote world peace and shun conflicts and disputes between countries, he said. He noted that the world is facing the fiercest threat to humanity since World War II, which prompted international societies towards cohesion and solidarity despite the closure of international borders. The International Day of Conscience is important to confront the dangers of this epidemic and to highlight the necessity of cooperation and the sense of responsibility in order to achieve success for the Day, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly with the aim of promoting a culture of peace through love and conscience. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the United Nations General Assembly for the 73rd session, expressed her appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, for his International Day of Conscience initiative. The celebration of this occasion comes at the appropriate time, especially since the world is in urgent need for more understanding, solidarity, awareness and building a culture of peace in order to face the coronavirus pandemic that affected all of humanity. She stressed that the crisis that the world is facing today because of the coronavirus outbreak confirms the extent of our need to recognise that our lives depend on the extent of our own awareness and that of the others and the necessity that we are closely interconnected, she said. We must view the corona epidemic as a warning and as a wake-up call to our conscience and awareness, she added. There is an urgent necessity to acknowledge the fact that the world is facing a global challenge in which the people must unite to combat the coronavirus and deal with the unexpected heavy losses of its fallout that will affect humanity, she said. The celebration of the International Day of Conscience for the first time should remind everyone that they have a role to play in facing this crisis away from any selfishness or greed, she noted. It is also a valuable opportunity to build a new international social order, which necessitates a new global strategy to deal with all international crises and issues, she added. United Nations Messenger of Peace U.S. actor and producer Michael Douglas said the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of International Conscience Day upon the initiative of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister is a matter of utmost importance and necessity given the need of humanity to address issues of world peace and the settlement of disputes and conflicts. He added that the celebration of the International Day of Conscience to promote a culture of peace, love and conscience is amazing because it comes at a time when the world desperately needs to strengthen such a culture in order to face the aggressive impulses and human differences that are occurring around us. Douglas stressed that celebrating conscience as a global occasion boosts values and principles and contributes to using human capabilities to face numerous threats facing humanity, including climate change, environmental pollution and nuclear weapons chaos. Former French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, considered that the International Day of Conscience, at the initiative of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an invitation to the world to remember the importance of peace and the necessity of solidarity and cooperation in facing the repercussions of the coronavirus. Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Member of Parliament in Tanzania and former Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT)said that as the coronavirus is sweeping the world, the International Day of Conscience presents an opportunity for people to look into their consciences and lifestyles and work to consolidate the values of love, solidarity and peace that bring prosperity to all. Alaa Murabit, UN High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth, said that in light of the celebration of the first International Day of Conscience and as the globe faces the coronavirus epidemic, it is important to appreciateits impact on the world in the futureand the change it needs in order to make the international order effective, more realistic and supportive of all humans. "If on this day we are concerned with human rights, we must ask serious questions about the healthcare system, economic paradigms, human value and the human mind," she said. Dr. Jane Goodall, United Nations Messenger of Peace: "As we celebrate the International Day of Conscience, we must remember that we are going through very difficult times. The coronavirus pandemic is sweeping the world and many people are suffering from the disease, including doctors and nurses who are working selflessly on the front lines," she said. "Today, we must reconsider the growing gap between the haves and the have-nots and the extreme poverty not only in poor countries but also in the richest and wealthiest countries."