UNGA adopts resolutions highlighting need to foster interreligious dialogue

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday adopted three resolutions, highlighting the need to foster interreligious and cultural dialogue and bolster education in efforts to prevent future clashes between and within societies.

The resolutions adopted at the 45th plenary meeting of the UNGA include "Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace," "Follow up to the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace" and a final one that designates July 20 as World Chess Day.

Ahmed Nasir, first secretary of the Maldives mission to the United Nations, said after the voting that education is a key element in cultivating and nurturing a culture of peace.

"Despite much progress in that regard, there are still some 262 million children worldwide who do not go to school. Inequality remains one of the biggest obstacles to creating a culture of peace," he said.

Speaking of social media, he said that "without adequate regulation, social media has become a tool to spread populist rhetoric, political extremism, racism, xenophobia and falsehoods. We call on social media companies to take more responsibility, especially in monitoring divisive content."

Ana Silvia Rodriguez Abascal, deputy permanent representative of Cuba to the United Nations, warned, after the voting, that the world today "produces more bullets than books," noting that so long as nuclear deterrence is used as a method to contain war, human beings will not enjoy a culture of peace.

"There can be no peace without full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and the self determination of peoples. The use of unilateral coercive measures as a foreign policy tool must cease," she said.