Hedayah takes part in 5th Annual Interfaith International Conference in Pristina

PRISTINA, 3rd June, 2016 (WAM) -- Hedayah, the International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, CVE, has participated in the 5th Annual Interfaith International Conference on "The Role of Women in Promoting Interfaith Dialogue and Countering Violent Extremism". The conference, which began on the 31st May in Pristina, Kosovo, and concluded yesterday, gathered government officials, community and civil society representatives, faith leaders, diplomats, journalists, artists and academics from all over the world in order to bring forward the role of women in promotion of interfaith dialogue, countering violent extremism and peaceful conflict-resolution. In his opening remarks, Hashim Thaci, President of Kosovo, stressed the key role that women play in countering extremism and the reality of the risks associated with violent extremism. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Hedayah Steering Board, emphasised that our world today, more than any time before, is in dire need of cultivation of the values of tolerance, co-existence and respect for religions and beliefs, which are the pillars for unity and coherence of any society. Dr. Al Nuaimi talked about the success of the United Arab Emirates, which, he said, could serve as a model for co-existence, tolerance and respect for others irrespective of their nationality, religion or race. It is also highly manifested in last year’s UAE Law on "Combating Discrimination and Hatred". Dr. Al Nuaimi reiterated the importance of Hedayah’s participation in the conference for the second year in a row, saying that it serves as a foundation for strengthening mutual relations of collaboration and building strategic partnerships with the Republic of Kosovo and other Balkans countries. Maqsoud Kruse, Executive Director of Hedayah, was one of the key panellists on the third panel of the second day of the conference, entitled, "Focusing on families: The role of women and young people in countering violent extremism", which was moderated by Petri Selimi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo. The panel featured discussions and presentations that focused on the know-hows in strengthening counter-messaging of religious extremism, while focusing on the role of women in CVE contemporary debates and Interfaith Dialogue. In his remarks, Mr Kruse highlighted Hedayah’s main priorities, particularly the initiatives and activities that focus on the role of women in countering violent extremism, which are at the top of the centre’s priority list. He spoke about one of Hedayah’s recent publications entitled "A Man’s World? - Exploring the Roles of Women in Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism". Mr Kruse emphasised the importance of this specific publication as it contains a collection of essays and analysis of the international frameworks of women in preventing and countering violent extremism – including UN Security Council Resolution No.1325, the UN Action Plan to Prevent Violent Extremism, as well as a set of practical recommendations and good practices on the roles of women in countering violent extremism. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395296233047.html