Saudi-European Parliamentary Friendship Committee discusses cooperation during Strasbourg visit    Diriyah to host third IMFC Deputies meeting under Saudi chairmanship    15,135 decisions taken to penalize Saudis and expats for violations    Saudi stock market loses half a trillion riyals, with Aramco's losses amounting to SR340 billion Tariff turmoil rattles Gulf markets    KAU to host Digital Communication Conference in Jeddah from April 29 to May 1    TGA: Riyadh tops with 45% of 290 million orders delivered in 2024    Aja and Salma mountains draw nature lovers to Hail's rugged landscapes    US revokes all visas for South Sudanese nationals over deportation dispute    Death toll from Myanmar earthquake rises to 3,471    Macron to hold Gaza summit with Egypt and Jordan in Cairo    Benzema rescues Al Ittihad with stoppage-time equalizer in thrilling Jeddah Derby    Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq share spoils in tense Eastern Derby stalemate    Moussa Diaby praises Al Ittihad's resilience after Jeddah Derby draw "When you can't win, you take a point"    Saudi assistant referee Iman Al Madani joins AFC elite list for 2025    Riyadh Art Week launches with over 50 galleries showcasing global artistic dialogue    Turki Al-Sheikh announces five new Saudi film projects to be produced in Riyadh    Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



UN chief appeals to ‘common humanity' across all faiths, in tackling the coronavirus
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 14 - 05 - 2020

Our shared vulnerability to the coronavirus pandemic reveals "our common humanity", the UN chief said on Tuesday during an online meeting with religious leaders on the important role they can play, in limiting the damage caused by COVID-19.
"It lays bare our responsibility to promote solidarity as the foundation of our response — a solidarity based on the human rights and human dignity of all," Secretary-General António Guterres explained. "And it highlights the crucial role of religious leaders in your communities and beyond."
Joined by leaders from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths, the UN chief cited previous public health crises, including HIV/AIDS and Ebola, noting how spiritual leadership had been a positive benefit in terms of community values, attitudes and actions.
"And with this influence comes responsibility to work together, putting aside differences, and to translate our common values into action," he underscored as he highlighted four pivotal ways they can help reverse the pandemic, and aid recovery.
First, he asked them to "actively challenge inaccurate and harmful messages" along with rejecting xenophobia, racism and "all forms of intolerance".
It was important to "categorically condemn" violence against women and girls, which is on the rise, he said, and "support shared principles of partnership, equality, respect and compassion".
"Partnership also means ensuring women's equal voice and representation in all spheres", he told the virtual discussion.
He called on leaders to leverage their networks to support governments in promoting public health measures, such as physical distancing and good hygiene and to also practice these during faith-based activities, including worship services and burials.
Finally, as the world's students are out of school, he urged faith leaders to "support the continuity of education" so that learning never stops.
Providing ‘hope to the hopeless'
General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande highlighted the unique role of faith, saying that it gives "hope to the hopeless" and in times of anxiety, "can be a significant source of comfort and community resilience."
During this "unprecedented threat", he said that religious leaders and faith-based organizations have an even greater role to play "in saving lives and mitigating the spread of the disease".
"We look up to them to share credible information and stand up against rumors, violence, and the incitement of hate and advocate for the needs of vulnerable populations," stressed the Assembly President.
Using moral authority
Against the backdrop of rising poverty, heightened suffering for marginalized people, children out of school and fatalities from the coronavirus, Muhammad-Bande flagged that "unfortunately, there is no timeline for the end of this pandemic".
"This means that we have a lot of work ahead of us", he said calling on "faith-based organizations and religious leaders, equipped with courage and vision", to use their moral authority to continue advocating for women's empowerment, access to education and health facilities.
As COVID-19 related restrictions have closed churches, synagogues and mosques worldwide, he noted that many religious leaders have swiftly adapted by taking worship online. He also lauded their engagement with youth in developing messages on social media, "making them effective partners" in raising awareness on preventative measures.
Religious leaders on the frontlines
High-Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Miguel Moratinos shared the Secretary-General's call for global solidarity, underscoring the need to consider vulnerable populations and marginalized communities, as well as growing stigma and hate speech.
"In life-altering crises when people are desperate and uprooted from their lives, faith has often been their anchor and the place they turn to for consolation and hope," he maintained, adding that "this is where the role of religious leaders come into play."
The UNAOC chief elaborated that faith actors are deeply rooted in the communities they serve and are often first responders, saying it "was heartening to see how many religious leaders and communities of faith swiftly acted and placed themselves in the frontlines providing valuable services to their communities."
He also acknowledged governments and health institutions for working closely with religious leaders as millions globally had to celebrate Passover, Easter and Ramadan under lockdown to reduce coronavirus transmission.
In closing, Moratinos announced a meeting at the end of the month to, among other things "identify areas of action and concrete result-oriented initiatives that religious leaders and faith-actors can undertake in response to COVID19."
Leaders chime in
Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, of the Catholic Church, told the gathering that the pandemic "provides the impetus for us to build bridges of friendship and fraternity".
"Let us stay united to face current challenges," he said.
Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the Park East Synagogue in New York, and Ambassador to the UNAOC, looked beyond the pandemic, reminding all that "every crisis and conflict comes to an end."
As a Holocaust survivor, he recalled that the UN was established 75 years ago as "a classic example" of mankind's history of destruction, devastation, loss of life, rebuilding, restoration and as a result of united action, "ultimately rebirth".
"With faith, prayer and action we can build a brighter future for our children, a world of peace, love and kindness", he stressed.
Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of Morocco's Rabita Mohammadia of Oulémas spoke on behalf of the Islamic faith.
The organizer of the event, Moroccan Ambassador to the UN Omar Hilale, noted that "the fury with which COVID-19 fell on the world and its planetary consequences, require, more than ever, a unified and responsible message."
"Religious leaders can play a key role in preserving human brotherhood and building more inclusive, cohesive, safer, more resilient and more united societies, especially in troubled times," he added. — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.