Antonio Guterres: Diversity must be a source of strength instead of threat
October 13, 2021, 12:05 am

Antonio Guterres: Diversity must be a source of strength instead of threat

Diversity-Faces/Pixabay

The Xinhua reported, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that diversity must be seen as a source of strength instead of threat in search for peace.

He told an open debate of the Security Council on diversity, state-building and the search for peace: "For countries emerging from the horrors of conflict and looking to a better future -- indeed for all countries -- diversity must not be seen as a threat. It is a source of strength."

He said, diversity should be seen as an anchor of peace and stability and a rallying point for every person to contribute to a better future -- for themselves, and for their societies.

Parties to conflict can agree to end hostilities. They can agree to begin the long process of rebuilding a country. And they can even join forces to reconstitute a government. Guterres warned that without including a wide range of diverse voices at every step of this process -- without bringing all people along -- any peace will be short-lived.

He added, long-standing grievances, inequalities, mistrust and social divisions do not simply vanish when the fighting stops. They can easily flare up again. And they can be worsened if people and groups hungry for change do not see their needs and vision for the future being addressed.

To promote inclusion in the process of rebuilding communities and sustaining peace, Guterres emphasized three areas for action.

First, national institutions and laws must work for all people.

This means protecting and promoting human rights, including people's rights to health, education, protection and opportunity. It means implementing policies and laws that protect vulnerable groups, including laws against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. And it means working with all partners to develop stronger national capacities that can serve all people equally, he said.

Second, countries should explore ensuring a greater voice to subnational regions.

Countries emerging from years, or even decades, of instability cannot afford to ignore the views of entire segments of their populations and risk fueling future resentments. Governments must find ways to move people forward together, as one, through constant dialogue -- recognizing and respecting differences -- even if this means devolving some areas of authority, he said.

Third, women, young people and the most marginalized must be involved every step of the way.

Building and sustaining peace requires their voices and actions. That's why UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions put a strong emphasis on greater inclusion and meaningful participation of women and young people. The international community must continue encouraging and supporting the full and active participation of women and young people in this journey, he said.

Source: xinhua

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”