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Anna Lindh Foundation Seminar on “The Intercultural Trends in the Euro-Mediterranean Region”

1/13/2019

 

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Anna Lindh Foundation Seminar on
 “The Intercultural Trends in the Euro-Mediterranean Region”
HRH Prince Hassan, chairperson of the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies stressed the importance of diversity and pluralism to challenge hatred which is based on ignorance, fear and extremism.
During a review symposium on the “Intercultural Trends Report”, Prince Hassan called for empowering “humans” to build stronger societies and strengthen citizenship.
These values are the foundation of humanism in the face of extremism, ignorance and xenophobia, His Highness stated.
During the event, co-organised by the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures and the University of Petra, the Prince noted that respecting differences represents the solid human base that leads to a patriotism that incubates religious and cultural diversity, according to a statement issued by Prince Hassan’s office.
There is need for a dialogue mechanism that is based on respecting various opinions, in a way that allows serious objective talks on setting priorities and identifying national and regional commonalities, he stressed.
During his opening remarks, Dr. Muwalla, President of Petra University, remarked that “Petra University and the Anna Lindh Foundation have convergent interests as both institutions aim at investing and supporting young people. Petra University promotes quality education and diversity, a diversity which is also within the campus counting students from 34 different countries”. The President concluded that “Education through diversity is a rewarding tool as it produces rich understanding and dialogue. For this cooperation among different stakeholders is key”.
Mme Elisabeth Guigou, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, underlined that “The centrality of intercultural dialogue has been recognised by the societies of the region at large through the Intercultural Trends Survey at the heart of the 2018 edition of the Report. This centrality is pivotal in addressing the issues of the day, from the social impact of the refugee crisis to the root causes of radicalisation and challenging extremist narratives”. And she concluded saying that “the cooperation established between the Anna Lindh Foundation, Petra University and the Union of Mediterranean Universities, Unimed, around the research on intercultural trends is particularly significant and we wish to encourage this shared approach for intercultural dialogue in the region with the involvement of academics, youth and representatives of civil society”.
Whereas the Executive Director of Anna Lindh Foundation Dr Nabil Al Sharif explained the importance of the role that the Foundation plays in the Euro-Mediterranean region  and stressed that “As part of the mandate given by the 42 governments of the region, the Foundation has developed its action as a facilitator of socio-cultural exchanges among the inhabitants of the region, as a center of analysis for the study of intercultural dynamics and values within and between societies on both shores of the Mediterranean and as a point of reference for advocacy with governments, international organizations for the promotion of dialogue, as well as a donor to support cooperation projects involving civil society on both sides of the Mediterranean”, and added that “In order to reach the greatest number of citizens with its action, the Foundation works through a network including a large number of civil society organizations in the 42 countries of the region”.
The second panel included an overview of the main regional results of the Intercultural Trends Survey delivered by Eleonora Insalaco, head of the Intercultural research and programming of ALF, an analysis of the data according to the level of religiousity of respondents done by Prof. Shana Cohen, Director of TASC in Dublin, Affiliated lecturer and associate researcher with the sociology department at the University of Cambridge, and a more in-depth analysis of the data gathered by Jordanian respondents was delivered by Dr Saif Nimry, Managing Director of Ipsos Jordan and Dr Rowaida Al Maittah, Member of the Anna Lindh Foundation Advisory Council.
About the Anna Lindh Report 2018
The INTERCULTURAL TRENDS REPORT of the Anna Lindh Foundation, established in 2010 with the support of the 42 Member States of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and the European Union, represents a landmark study on cross-cultural trends and social change across Europe and the southern Mediterranean. The REPORT, entering its third edition this year, is based on a unique public opinion survey carried out with citizens on both sides of the Mediterranean, as an instrument for measuring trends in cultural relations and triggering action for change at the policy level of regional cooperation. The Anna Lindh Report 2018 is based on the results of the Intercultural Trends Survey, commissioned by the Foundation and carried out by Ipsos, conducted in European countries and Southern Mediterranean countries.