The UAE has announced the launch of two international initiatives aimed at harnessing the spirit of tolerance among the global community – the Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Tolerance and the International Institute for Tolerance.

These initiatives were launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Saturday.

"The UAE is a melting pot of different global cultures and represents a model of tolerance. We are proud of the spirit of solidarity in UAE society but we now aim to transform this social value into a sustainable institutional framework that benefits all the peoples of the Arab world and beyond," stated Sheikh Mohammed while speaking at the launch.

"Tolerance is a guarantee for sustainable development and stability in all countries of the world. Today there is a vital need for an intellectual and cultural renaissance that spreads the message of tolerance and coexistence," he added.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Tolerance will recognize significant achievements in tolerance in the domains of human thought, literary creativity and the arts.

The award aims to build Arab youth leaders and hone their capacities and spirit of tolerance in the intellectual, cultural and media arenas to promote greater openness in the Arab world.

Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, State Minister for Tolerance, has been directed to head the board for the award while His Excellency Ahmad Khalfan Al Mansour will serve as the Secretary General.  

The International Institute for Tolerance is the first-of-its-kind institute in the Arab world and will provide advice, consultation and expertise in developing to promote and instil the value of tolerance in society.

The institute will publish studies and reports focused on tolerance and work in collaboration with concerned cultural institutions in the Arab world to spread the principles of tolerance among new generations.

It is also mandated to investigate and document the roots of bigotry, narrow-mindedness and sectarianism. Furthermore, the institute will serve as a think tank supporting Arab researchers and international specialists engaged in the field of tolerance.

Dr Hamad Al Shaikh Ahmed Al Shaibani has been appointed the managing director for the Institute for Tolerance.

These two initiatives are the latest efforts by Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the global organization concerned with the development of human societies - that spearheads more than 30 humanitarian, charitable, knowledge, health and educational programs.

MBRGI, headed by Sheikh Mohammed, aims to improve the lives of 130 million people in the upcoming decade.

"We need to provide our youth with knowledge resources and intellectual vigour for them to grow and achieve their potential. With the award, our focus will be on Arab youth who are our future hope in standing up against bigotry and exclusion," said Sheikh Mohammed.

"The award will acknowledge the symbols of tolerance in all creative and intellectual domains. We see this award as an urgent initiative under the present circumstances," he added.

Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, the secretary general of MBRGI said these initiatives are a practical response from Sheikh Mohammed to the main causes of tension and decline in the region that include bigotry, narrow-mindedness and prejudice against beliefs, sects and nationalities.

"These will highlight models of openness and tolerance and support intellectual and aesthetic creativity. This will in turn encourage tolerance and coexistence in the region," he noted.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Tolerance will be presented across five categories. Three will acknowledge achievements of tolerance in human thought, literary and artistic creativity. While, the remaining two will take the shape of contests dedicated to youth projects and new media.

In human thought, the award will honour a figure who has contributed to spreading tolerance through his/her works and exemplifies tolerant attitudes and the ability to bring cultures together.

The literary creativity award will acknowledge authors for multiculturalism, the preservation of human heritage and promoting mutual understanding and equality among people.

In the field of aesthetic arts, the award will be presented to a leading artist in theatre, painting, cinema or other arts who has dedicated his/her work to building bridges between cultures and celebrating coexistence and tolerance. The award will also announce a contest to select tolerance ambassadors for youth, focusing on the social media and online environments.

The International Institute for Tolerance for its part will guarantee the sustainability of projects related to tolerance and organize programs that increase awareness and allow the transformation of ideas into reality to benefit societies at large.

The institute will help build leaders and capacities, and spread a culture of tolerance. The institute will also organize activities and training and supports researchers across the world in identifying the roots of bigotry and narrow-mindedness in societies.-TradeArabia News Service