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Interfaith dialogue ends with vow to uphold human rights, diversity


Reiterating their commitment to protect and promote human rights and freedom of expression, member-states including those with bleak human rights records concluded Thursday the special ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on interfaith dialogues. The two-day conference ended with ministers and representatives of 118 member-states adopting the Manila Declaration and Program of Action. The document states that inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue is a “productive tool to promote economic and social development, peace and security, and human rights and the rule of law." Under the declaration, NAM states agree to ensure that people fully enjoy the right to freedom of expression while preventing abuses and incitement to religious hatred “as provided for in the international human rights instruments to which states are parties." Member-states reiterated the need for international cooperation in building inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue at the national and regional levels towards conflict prevention and nuclear disarmament. They likewise emphasized the need to promote respect for the diversity of religions, beliefs, cultures and societies, and for prophets, religious symbols and personalities. They also noted the value of spiritual practices as an aid to promoting peace and resolving conflict. Dismal human rights records Human rights situations in NAM states, however, have not been very encouraging in the past years. The non-aligned movement counts among its 118 member-states the junta-ruled Myanmar, North Korea, Iran and even the Philippines, where rampant human rights violations have been scored by international rights watchdogs, including United Nations bodies. Of special concern is Myanmar’s passage of a law that would ban opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in the national elections expected to be held this year. Suu Kyi has been in and out of detention for a total of 14 years since she was elected Prime Minister in the country’s 1990 elections. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo met with Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Nyan Win at the sidelines of the meeting to seek an explanation on the election law, but said the minister “didn’t talk much" about the issue. Even the Philippines' human rights situation has come under fire from the European Union, the US Department of State and the UN for the spate of political killings and abductions in recent years. (See: RP scored for killings, state abuses in US gov’t report) Human rights conditions in other NAM member-states like North Korea, Iran and Iraq have also been deplored by the international community, prompting questions on NAM’s relevance, as well as its ability to foster consensus among member-states. Biggest grouping of developing countries The NAM is considered the largest grouping of “developing counties" outside of the UN, making up nearly two-thirds of the members of the UN. Since its inception in 1961, the NAM has played a significant role in representing the interests of developing countries, particularly in eradicating colonialism, supporting struggles for liberation and self-determination, and pursuing peace. The conference of NAM heads of states is the movement’s highest decision-making authority. Conferences are held every three years, with the last held in July 2009 in Egypt. The special ministerial meeting in Manila was originally scheduled for December last year but was postponed due to the series of typhoons. Its budget was reportedly pegged at P400 million, and about 3,500 police officers were deployed to secure the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila where the meeting was held.—JMA/JV, GMANews.TV

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