Latest news with #MiguelÁngelMoratinos
Scoop
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Interview: Un Offers Best Platform To Address Discrimination, Envoy To Combat Islamophobia Says
4 June 2025 'Everybody understood that something had to be done in order to eradicate and eliminate this sense of intolerance and lack of acceptance of these people,' Miguel Ángel Moratinos said in an interview with UN News. In the face of rising Islamophobia, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in March 2024 that condemned anti-Muslim violence. Acting against intolerance It called for countries to take all necessary measures - including legislative and policy measures - to combat religious intolerance, and to prohibit by law incitement to violence against persons on the grounds of their religion or belief. The resolution also requested the Secretary-General to appoint a Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia. Mr. Moratinos assumed the post this month and will also continue in his present role as High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), established two decades ago to promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue. He reflected on the significance of the new appointment, how it supplements his work to fight antisemitism, and the priorities that lie ahead. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length. Miguel Ángel Moratinos: I think this is a key moment for the UN and for the commitment to fight Islamophobia. It comes at a moment when the whole international community, all 193 UN Member States, decided to have this figure in order to demonstrate that they are all in favour of combating Islamophobia. That means combating discrimination, hostility and violence against Muslim people that want to live in peace and dignity. Everybody understood that something had to be done to eradicate and eliminate this sense of intolerance and lack of acceptance of these people. They have a faith, they have a religion, they have a mission, and so they have to be respected like any other human being. UN News: You are also serving as the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). How does combining the fight against Islamophobia with your department's broader mission enhance the UN's efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue? Miguel Ángel Moratinos: The UN Alliance of Civilizations has a broader mission. It was started 20 years ago when then Secretary-General Kofi Annan decided to launch this initiative. I was thinking over the past days, when I had been appointed as the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, that this was the right response because when I was Foreign Minister of Spain and we decided with the then Prime Minister (José Luis Rodríguez) Zapatero to launch this idea for an Alliance of Civilizations, behind this idea was what happened after 9-11 and why there was this kind of reluctance, misunderstanding and confusion about Islam. Now I have the broader mandate in the Alliance of Civilizations. We are working not only on fighting discrimination based on religion, faith or belief, but we also have the cultural religion aspect in order to facilitate conflict resolution, prevention and how we create the means to achieve peace and live better together. But at the same time, we need a specific mandate to go further in our fight against this kind of discrimination. I have the portfolio of focal point for antisemitism and now I also have the portfolio to combat Islamophobia. UN News: How can the UN better address rising Islamophobia generally or globally in our world today? Miguel Ángel Moratinos: Islamophobia is not something that only occurs in Europe or in the United States, but globally. We are in a multipolar world. All problems and actions take place across the planet and the UN has to address them. The UN is the platform that takes all countries and nations into consideration. And, of course, the Muslim community is one of the biggest on the planet. We are practically eight billion people and 2.5 billion are Muslim. I think the UN is the best platform to really fight against any kind of discrimination or negative attitude towards them. UN News: Now that you have this dual role as a High Representative for the UNAOC and Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, tell us about your top priorities. Miguel Ángel Moratinos: My top priority will of course be the general action programme of the Alliance for Civilizations. We have a UN plan for fighting antisemitism and we will also have a UN plan to fight Islamophobia. We will set certain priorities and of course the most important is to reduce this rise of anti-Islamic and Muslim hatred that is spreading around the world. We have to engage with the main international organizations and main countries that have the capacity and that are concerned about the spread of this anti-Muslim behaviour. UN News: What are some examples of projects or partnerships you are currently working on or hope to implement in the future? Miguel Ángel Moratinos: We have several that have to start immediately. Islam is not well understood in the western world, so we have to use education. We have to establish certain programmes to explain what Islam is, what the Quran is. People are referring to the Quran and to Islam, but they have not read the Quran at all, so they don't know. Second, we have to be very strong in condemning any act, hostility, violation or attack against not only Muslim people, but Islamic property, holy sites, holy books, etc. We have to reinforce respect. And for that, we need to introduce certain elements into the legal systems of western countries. Some countries like Sweden and Denmark have made certain reforms in their legal systems, so they can be made through dialogue, through understanding, through respect. And I think this legal empowerment to defend and to combat Islamophobia is needed. UN News: Any final thoughts? Miguel Ángel Moratinos: I think this appointment came at the right moment. What really encouraged me is that I have the full support of the international community. It showed that the whole world, whether you are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or Buddhist, or any faith - all Member States voted for this resolution and for the appointment of a Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia. I think that will help me to successfully achieve my mandate.
Ya Biladi
a day ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
The UN is preparing a plan to combat Islamophobia
Four weeks after his appointment as the United Nations Special Envoy for Combating Islamophobia, announced on May 7, Miguel Ángel Moratinos has unveiled his action plan. In an interview with the UN News website, the Spanish diplomat stressed that hatred toward Islam and Muslims «is not limited to Europe or the United States, but is a global phenomenon». «The Muslim community is one of the largest in the world. Out of nearly eight billion people, 2.5 billion are Muslims», said Moratinos, who served as Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2010. «We already have a UN plan to combat antisemitism, and we will also have one to address Islamophobia. We're setting priorities, first and foremost, tackling the rise of anti-Islam and anti-Muslim hatred that's spreading around the world. We must work with major international organizations and countries that have both the resources and the will to counter this growing hostility». Moratinos acknowledged that «Islam is often misunderstood in the West», making education a central part of his approach. «We need programs to explain what Islam and the Quran are. Many people talk about it without ever having read the Quran». Alongside educational initiatives, Moratinos called for strong condemnation of «any act, hostility, violation, or attack against Muslims or Islamic institutions. We must foster greater respect. That requires integrating specific legal provisions into the judicial systems of Western countries». On March 15, 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, proposed by Pakistan, with 115 votes in favor, 44 abstentions, and none against, calling on the Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy to combat Islamophobia. In addition to his new role, Moratinos will continue to serve as High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, a post he has held since 2019. The UN noted that «this dual mandate aims to maximize existing capacity and resources by integrating the new responsibilities into an established position».
See - Sada Elbalad
19-05-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
The UNAOC in the Service of International Peace
Prof. Abdelhak Azzouzi It is impossible to speak of the UNAOC without mentioning its High Representative, Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, a prominent figure in international diplomacy within the United Nations. As the UN's High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, his career stands as a model of a life devoted to peacebuilding and fostering agreement, rooted in empathy and solidarity among peoples. The UN program he leads, guided solely by wisdom and foresight, aims to instill in young people the values of cultural pluralism, diversity of beliefs, and sustainable development. Its greatest enemies are radical fundamentalism, unchecked individualism, and exclusion based on racism or hatred. By multiplying programs, summits, and meetings across the globe, Mr. Moratinos is more determined than ever to champion hope and restore human dignity to the core of all economic, social, and political issues. "Our humanity comes first," he continually proclaims. It is our current capital and future heritage, which must be preserved and promoted without wavering in the face of hardship. This explains why he held significant administrative and diplomatic positions in Europe, the Middle East, and Arab countries with exemplary efficiency before joining the United Nations. A true Mediterranean at heart and in spirit, he is deeply devoted to humanity and to the refinement that lies at the foundation of all civilizations. Under his leadership and with the support of his team, the UNAOC has become an inclusive United Nations platform that brings together multiple stakeholders to advance the culture of peace and promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the name of peace and mutual respect. UN member states have reaffirmed their support for the UNAOC and its role in promoting dialogue as a form of soft power to prevent conflict, through General Assembly Resolutions 64/14 of December 22, 2009, and 69/312 of July 6, 2015. Inspired by UNAOC's values and principles, several governments have developed and launched national plans and strategies aimed at preventing tension, promoting interfaith harmony, improving interethnic relations, and strengthening social cohesion. In November 2010, the UNAOC Regional Strategy for the Mediterranean was adopted by member states in Valletta, Malta. As part of this strategy, the UNAOC and its partners—including the European Commission, the League of Arab States, and the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation—have proposed a series of training programs, workshops, summer schools, and annual fellowship editions. These bring together young people from diverse cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds to encourage collaboration, mutual respect, and the deconstruction of stereotypes and prejudices about the 'Other.' In this context, the United Nations Chair for the Alliance of Civilizations, which I preside over, was created at the Euromed University of Fez. The creation of the 'United Nations Chair for the Alliance of Civilizations' at the Euromed University of Fez was announced during the 9th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, held in Fez on November 22–23, 2022, and during a joint press conference by H.E. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, and H.E. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations. The Chair was officially inaugurated on December 6, 2024, at the Euromed University of Fez and was officially recognized during the UNAOC Advisory Council meeting held on April 20, 2025, in Marrakech. The Chair's mission is to conduct activities, training, and research related to the Alliance of Civilizations, intercultural and interfaith dialogue, peace diplomacy, conflict resolution, and the search for unity in diversity—all in full alignment with the values and principles of the UNAOC and Euromed University of Fez. Since its creation, the Chair has undertaken various actions, summarized as follows: • February 14, 2024: Organized meetings of Euro-Mediterranean and African youth at the Moroccan Parliament alongside the Summit of Parliamentary Presidents and the 17th Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean. Youth from 30 countries exchanged ideas and debated the challenges facing the Euro-Mediterranean and African regions, producing and reading a "Call for the Future" before the parliamentary presidents of the UfM member states. • December 6–7, 2024: Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, held conferences and discussions on the topic of the Alliance of Civilizations, with the participation of prominent figures from various countries and approximately 1,600 students. • December 6, 2024: Organized youth meetings on the theme of immigration involving Euro-Mediterranean and African participants. • 2023: Launched a Master's program in 'Conflict Resolution and the Alliance of Civilizations,' enrolling students from around 20 different nationalities. • Several PhD students are currently conducting their research within the framework of the Chair. • Published numerous scientific journals and books. Among the journals: International Journal of European, Mediterranean and African Studies, Médiations Méditerranéennes, Alternatives Africaines, and Student Times. The Chair also released its first set of academic books, distributed worldwide, meeting the highest editorial standards, further affirming its role as a center of knowledge. • Appointment of Chair members from all continents. These members, drawn from a wide geographic range, form a global network of experts, allowing the Chair to expand its areas of activity accordingly. The Chair aspires—through the mobilization of a community of renowned scholars and thinkers—to nurture in students a new vision of humanity and the world, one that resists sectarianism, extremism, and exclusion. It promotes mutual respect for diverse perspectives and ideals and affirms the role of international law in defending pluralism of faiths, cultures, identities, and social characteristics. Today's globalized world challenges all peoples to embrace intercultural and interreligious understanding to prevent divisions, contradictions, and isolationist tendencies. Education and training at all levels are of crucial importance for citizens of the world to commit to peace. We are thus outlining a roadmap for building a culturally diverse society based on four goals: the shock of alterity, the meaning of difference, the awareness of perspective, and the intelligence of coherence. These core insights should form the essence of student training for harmonious living in a culturally and religiously mixed world. Our 'planetary society' is not immune to this growing diversity, and we believe it is urgent to prepare for it if we hope to contribute meaningfully and effectively to its development. We all share the responsibility of intensifying efforts to spread the values of dialogue, peace, and mutual understanding among peoples. In other words, this education in cultural diversity must connect citizens with truth in order to live humanely, spiritually, and rationally. Our future is shared. Binary and explosive visions are extremely dangerous—they inflame the imagination, and imagination can sometimes be more dangerous than objective reality. A reordering of the problems that fuel the dynamics between East and West—often falsely presented as opposites—is needed. Thus, the Chair seeks to be a vibrant space for research and dialogue on the pressing issues of our time. By investing in humanistic knowledge—both scientifically and heuristically—it serves as a powerful lever to support the younger generations in facing destructive dogmas and meeting the challenges of the future. Created by the UNAOC and Euromed University of Fez, this Chair continues to grow through new experiences, expertise, and innovations. Picture featuring the students of the Conflict Resolution and Alliance of Civilizations Master's program. 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Business Recorder
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
UN special envoy to combat Islamophobia: Pakistan greets appointment of Miguel Ángel Moratinos
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan warmly welcomed the appointment of the High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Miguel Ángel Moratinos, as the United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 78/264, entitled, 'Measures to Combat Islamophobia.' This historic appointment marks a major milestone in the United Nations' efforts to combat the alarming rise in Islamophobia, hatred, intolerance, and discrimination against Muslims worldwide. Pakistan takes pride in having initiated, led, and successfully steered, on behalf of the OIC, the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 78/264, which established the mandate for the Secretary-General to appoint a Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia. This builds on Pakistan's earlier leadership in the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 76/ 254, which proclaimed 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The appointment of the Special Envoy is timely and essential, as Islamophobia continues to escalate to deeply alarming levels around the world. Pakistan observes with grave concern the organised campaigns of vilification against Muslims, attacks on mosques, assaults on Muslim communities, and unprovoked aggressions against Muslim-majority countries — often perpetrated by those who hypocritically claim to uphold democratic and secular values. Such systematic and deliberate acts, driven by supremacist ideologies and populist rhetoric, endanger international peace and security, and gravely undermine the foundational principles of the United Nations Charter. There is an urgent need for enhanced and coordinated global action to promote respect for religious and cultural diversity, foster mutual understanding, and uphold the dignity, rights, and freedoms of all peoples. Pakistan remains firmly committed to continuing its leadership role in the global fight against Islamophobia, promoting interfaith harmony, and advocating for the protection of all religious communities. Pakistan also eagerly anticipates the Secretary-General's forthcoming comprehensive Action Plan to Combat Islamophobia, which will provide a much-needed strategic framework to guide international efforts against this rising menace. Pakistan looks forward to working closely with the Special Envoy in fulfilling his important mandate and supporting efforts to advance a world anchored in tolerance, coexistence, and justice. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
