Hanif Al Qassim, Zeid bin Ra'ad Al Hussein discuss practical measures to combat religious extremism, hate speech and incitement

GENEVA, 18th January 2015 (WAM): Dr. Hanif Al Qassim, Chairman of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue, has met His Royal Highness Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. During the meeting, they discussed practical and mandatory measures to combat religious intolerance, including national and international plans to criminalise the hate speech and incitement. Dr. Hanif Al Qassim stressed on the importance of partnership between the Commission and the Geneva Centre to promote human rights and meet the growing challenges in this respect. He noted that the centre's vision is in tune with the Commission's agenda, and said that the Geneva Centre was prepared to join efforts with the UN right body and other partners to respond to enormous challenges, and find solutions to thorny issues posed by the current state of affairs of the human rights in the world, especially in the light of certain recent international developments. HRH Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein expressed his appreciation about what has been achieved so far in the framework of cooperation between the two sides, citing the continuous work with the Anti-Discrimination Unit, prospects for institutional cooperation, and the development of the human rights system in the Arab region and the world. The two parties agreed on the need to promote exchange of best practices in force in several countries across the world, with regard to establishing a culture of global dialogue, human rights and ways to support them amid growing challenges and threats that cannot be separated from human rights violations in different parts of the world. Reviewing the international efforts in this area, they appreciated the initiatives, meetings and events held during the last three years, acknowledging that those efforts remain inadequate in view of the recent developments affecting the Arab region and the world. They urged the international community to strengthen its unity, solidarity and commitment to promoting the values of dialogue and tolerance. The two sides discussed in this context the Global Forum, which the Geneva Centre plans to organise in London, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in June to discuss the fight against religious intolerance, discrimination, incitement to violence through development of plans and programmes to curb the culture of religious intolerance. The London conference will be a key platform for governments, civil society organisations and academics to identify the legal authorities that will contribute to the development of national and international legislation to criminalise hate speech and incitement without being selective or applying double standards. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395275211104.html