Salaam Global Foundation in cooperation with Tehran Peace Museum and Non Aligned Movement Center for Human Rights and Cultural Diversity held meeting on World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development for discussion and exchange of ideas on cultural diversity, peace, dialogue and development on 25 May 2017. This meeting brought experts and scholars from different fields together.

In the beginning Dr. Alireza Moayyeri, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Salaam Global Foundation introduced the program while welcoming participants. In few words he talked about his experience as Iran representative to UNOG and Human Rights Council. He believed that some human rights arguments about Iran are politically motivated.

After introduction panel on cultural diversity, dialogue and development started by moderation of Yasser Salimi, vice-chair of international relations and diplomacy committee of Salaam Global Foundation. Two other panelists were Seyyed Mohammad Hasani, Head of Non-Aligned Movement Center for Human Rights and Cultural Diversity and Yalda Khosravi, Head of Peace Studies Group in Tehran Peace Museum.

At first Yasser Salimi introduced two guests and motioned that as they are both PhD candidates in Law the discussion will mostly focus on Human Rights.

Then Seyyed Mohamad Hasani made his intervention on human rights and cultural diversity. He said there are two major approaches to HR, universality based on 1948 UDHR and relativism based on cultural and religious principles. He believed presence of African HR and People charter, European HR Convention, Islamic Declaration of HR and American HR convention shows there is no consensus on HR. He believed there is no much difference in these documents but Islamic HR Declaration is different and is based on ideology.

In World Conference on Human Rights declaration despite emphasis on human rights universality cultural diversity is also mentioned there.

He also talked about resolution on HR and cultural diversity and said it was not able to address serious issues. He added: different cultures have different understandings of HR and have strong reasons for them and main point is intercultural dialogue on this issue and UN has not set appropriate mechanism for that.

Then Yalda Khosravi made her intervention on HR and peace. She said different understanding of HR refers to unclear theoretical basis. She believed HR introduced in UDHR has four characteristics. Its subject is individual and protects it from government. It is an instrument not value and is a mechanism for peaceful coexistence. It is minimalistic and protects individuals with minimal standards. It is neutral from ethical point of view and has nothing to do with content of the right.

She added: concept of peace is mentioned in UN charter and UDHR preamble. In international law peace is goal but in peace studies it is not only absence of war but it’s a process. Every culture has an understanding form beauty and truth which could be used. We can know ourselves through knowing others therefore cultural diversity should be preserved.

She said main activity of Tehran Peace Museum is making a platform for dialogue and understanding and mentioned two projects for bringing young peace makers all over Iran and globally together.

After the interventions question and answer session started. Dr. Ali Hakimattar Head of Salaam Global Foundation BoD said it seems with growing of social media we witness unification of cultures and diversity is diminishing. Dr. Hosseini, Member of Salaam Global Foundation Trustees Board asked the panelists if economy is more important element here or culture. He made an example from US and KSA relations despite cultural differences. Seyyed Mohammad Hassani answered this shows the culture of these countries since another country with different culture will not do the same. In the end Yasser Salimi, summarized the discussions. He mentioned Salaam Global Foundation participation in World Intercultural Forum in Baku. He also introduced UN Alliance of Civilizations as a comprehensive mechanism for dialogue among cultures and civilizations and its focus areas like education, media and youth.