OYW: Global Dignity

“Sport teaches us to be better, overcoming politics and opinion” – Clarence Seedorf

Inter cultural and inter faith dialogue go hand-in-hand to conditioning diplomatic dialogue over the resort of war. The discussion of inter-faith dialogue and dignity is to promote and encourage global respect. As presented by HRH Prince Haakon of Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen and John Hope Bryant (CEO of Operation Hope), the power of dignity must be recognised in leading a change of attitude horizontally and vertically in the cross-sector of society. As an example, fellow delegate, Azra spoke of her fight to protect Baha’is in her country, which stimulated other delegates to speak out of their struggles of religion versus social norms. It was also amazing to hear personal stories from a man from Israel and a woman from Palestine, urging in solidarity for peace in their country, which is proof that barriers of misunderstanding can be broken.

Plenary based on inter-faith dialogue was supported by OYW counsellors, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ken Costa (Lazard International), Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (journalist), Caspar Melville (New Humanist magazine), Iman Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, and Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan footballer).

Elliott Verrault (Canada) shared his insights to living in Japan, where foreign form, substance and custom soon became second nature. When placed in a foreign existence, it is easier to pick up similarities – this perspective can be applied to religion. The core principles of religion is the same and the difference between form and substance disappear. Shobana Nair Saseedharan (Malaysia) stressed on the importance of respecting of each other to prevent inter-faith war. Wars justified by religious beliefs are fused by concentrating on what makes us different and do not make an effort in learning about other teachings of faith without the fear of threat.

Yama Meerzada (Afghanistan) yearns for peace for his generation in a country that has been torn by secular war. Religion is not the problem but the perception of religious beliefs led by human beings, stressing that wars are “man-made not god-made.” Daniel Nüesch (Switzerland) noticed that fear is a great division to the freedom of speech and fear of other religion leads to intolerance. These barriers must be torn by education. Veronica Esquivel Patiño (Mexico) used the bicycle wheel analogy, exemplifying that we are all equal and heading in the same direction. Bogdan Gogulan (Russia) shared his personal story of marrying a Muslim woman and the challenges of raising a child in a multi-faith relationship in suburban Europe.

Surprisingly, the practice of sport is a tool used by many professionals to overcome intolerance, prejudices and indignity. In a conversation led by footballer Clarence Seedorf, paralympic athlete Tanni Grey Thompson, William Goullard (UEFA), and Andy Anson (CEO of England 2018), panlists exemplified how sports is used as a form of diplomacy. In Rwanda, sports created a form of reconciliation, and here in England, football bridges the gap for migrate children new into the country, employing sports as a form of integration and communication with other children.

Religious leaders have an influential role in encouraging respect and tolerance of all faiths and teachings. Everyone has the right to practice their religion peacefully and see similarity in these values, and this must be married with any source of education available, be it through schooling or sports.

Draft Resolution (to be amended): In the belief that war must never be carried out in the name of religion, we call upon leaders and followers of faiths to unequivocally commit to deliver peace among nations, races and creeds.