International Baku Forum “Expanding the Role of Women in Cross-Culture Dialogue” ends
International Baku Forum “Expanding the Role of Women in Cross-Culture Dialogue” initiated by Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP, and supported by the UNESCO and ISESCO was continued in Baku on June 11.
Presiding the third session of the Forum Gulshare Abdykalykova, Advisor to the Kazakh President, Chairwoman of National Commission for Family Affairs and Gender Policy, expressed gratitude to the Azeri Government and Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP, for such an influential event and hospitality shown to the delegation.
She underlined huge importance of the Forum held on the initiative of Heydar Aliyev Foundation for participation of women in globalization ongoing in the world, settlement of existing problems, conflicts, establishment of peace.
Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Morocco Ms Turiya Jabran said realization of the event in Azerbaijan indicates to tolerance and human rights and freedoms protection in the country.
Minister of Social Development of the Kingdom of Morocco Ms Nusha Skali stated the cross-cultural dialog will lift women’s role in the world, assure equality in formation of democratic and civil society.
State Secretary for International Relations of Hungarian Ministry of Education and Culture Catalin Bogyay talked of historical cultural ties between Azerbaijani and Hungarian nations, expressed thanks to First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva for the high-level forum.
She said Hungary has always tried to make contribution to the cultural exchange with other countries via the dialog. Cultural diplomacy is the core of society. In this sense, efforts must be united to further expand the cross-cultural dialog.
Yoko Hirosi, Professor at Shizuoka Prefecture University, Japan, talked of problems in the world, noting the role of women in their settlement.
Head of Family and Gender Affairs Department of the Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of Russia Tatiana Gurko said the family crisis caused by the incidents happening in the West results in loss of some values. Globalization has not passed by the family issues too. The international forum initiated by First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva will play essential role in solution of these and other problems, increase the role of women.
Rim Magribi, Chief Editor of “Sherg Magazin”, magazine published in Great Britain, noted women have always played significant role in the dialog of cultures. But action in base of stereotypes formed throughout the history has negative impact on family conduct of women. Such events will change the negative visions.
Professor of Amsterdam University for European Studies Cornelia Verteg talked of inequality between men and women in social life and European experience in this field.
Then, discussions were held on the subject, participants said views and suggestions.
Discussions were held on the theme “East and West: How Do We See Each Other” in the fourth session held under chairmanship of member of the Belgian Senate Ms Anna-Marie Lizi.
The Chairwoman said one of biggest problems in Europe is the status of female migrants and marriage of girls. Such cases bring to inequality in society, violation of woman rights. The strategy must be developed to prevent such cases forming negative stereotypes in the society.
Talking of problems of women working in field of education Professor of the Moscow State International Relations Institute Ms Irina Kudryashova said political intolerance, conflicts have negative impact on science and education. To prevent it, influence the Islamic values have on the social life must be taught to the European youth more comprehensively. Islamic values may form the core of development of entire society.
Chairwoman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Composers Union Firangiz Alizade talked of services of Mehriban Aliyeva for development of culture of Azerbaijan, underlined the first opera in East was created in Azerbaijan. She mentioned the cross-cultural dialog will positively influence the synthesis of western and eastern music.
Roland Hill, Professor at Dublin Trinity University, Ireland, said learning, studying and propagating the cultures may help prevent confrontation of civilizations. For this, national traditions, literature and material cultural samples of other nations must be studied. We hope this forum will further develop the dialog of civilizations.
Ms Angela Stent, Director of Eurasia, Russia and Eastern Europe Studies Center of US Georgetown University, said she is in Baku for the second time, highly valued changes and rapid development of past years. She talked of her studies in field of action of women to achieve the peace and stressed importance of functioning of women in different state offices.
Countess from Germany Anna Beatrica Schlik said the Forum will increase the image of Azerbaijan on the international level. Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva attaches special attention and care to development of Azerbaijani culture and we all are proud of her. Efforts Mehriban Aliyeva makes in works demanding huge patience and tolerance are appreciable. Just thanks to her a number of necessary works have been done in the cross-cultural dialog.
Stating Azerbaijan is in the very right way the countess said Azerbaijan economy of which is rapidly developing can become the center of dialog. It should be a model to other countries.
Then, discussions were held on the subject, participants said views and suggestions.
After the break, lecturers delivered reports in the sessions.
Then, Chairwoman of State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Family, Woman ad Child Problems Hijran Huseynova made speech. She said the second forum will be held in 2010 in Baku. A magazine on the forum will be published.
H.Huseynova noted the Baku Declaration of the Forum has been improved upon views and suggestions by the participants.
The final document of the International Forum – Baku Declaration was adopted.
The Declaration welcomes the initiative by First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva on holding the forum dedicated to contribution of women to the dialog of civilizations. It says the Baku Forum coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and it allows thinking of creating relation among human rights, cultural diversity, cross-cultural dialog and gender equality. The Declaration calls on the world states to increase participation of women in conflict resolution and decision-making in peacemaking processes.
The document expresses gratitude to Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO for organizing the Forum.
Addressing the final session of the event MRS MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA, First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, said:
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends.
Today we have a number of speeches and interesting discussions. Participants touched on very important issues. Questions raised here have been raised in different times and concern the dialog. Our choice is dialog. Our choice is tolerance and respect. Our choice is diversity and diversity of hearts, people, religions. We must not try to approach everyone from the same standpoint. We highly value diversity and try to enrich it.
During these 2 days we listened to each other, knew each other better, shared our views with respect and understanding. This is a small model of common life and we want this model to be established in all other points across the world.
I hope our forum will give contribution to the dialog of various cultures and nations and I believe with joint efforts we will continue this mission in future.
I sincerely thank the first ladies of Angola, Latvia, Poland, South African Republic, spouse of the Turkish Premier, First Lady of Texas State and Vice-Speaker of Federation Council of the Russian Federation. We also express our gratitude to UNESCO and ISESCO and government officials.
We express our deep gratitude to famous scientists and representatives of non-governmental organizations and media for making this event possible and implementing organizational works.
Then, ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz bin Othman Altwaijri expressed on behalf of the organization he represents gratitude for organizing the forum in high level and hospitality shown to the participants. He said the international forum will bring to implementation of new projects. Mutual understanding was noticed from the beginning till the end of the Forum.
The speaker stressed the event will stimulate creation of the alliance of civilizations and make contribution to fulfillment of the ISESCO Baku Declaration. Our major objective is to create the dialog of civilizations.
Director of the UNESCO Cultural Policy and Cross-Cultural Dialog Department Ms Catherina Stenu talked of final results. She said the dialog of cultures has become a complicated issue. Beside lifting the role of women in the processes ongoing in the world this forum will have positive impact on solution of that issue. Cross-cultural dialog is the important part of the dialog of civilizations. Analysis must be enlarged, political laws formed sufficiently. The role of women in political stability and diversity, protection of peace must be increased in XXI century.
Secretary General of OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu noted the Forum “Expanding the Role of Women in Cross-Culture Dialogue” initiated by First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva will stimulate the cross-cultural dialog in the globalizing world.
This forum will develop relationship between East and West, deepen cooperation. Azerbaijan is the pattern to others with its tolerance and culture.
Noting women play big role in the Azerbaijani society he said this factor should be a model to other countries. Because in some countries there are still stereotypes against women which is inadequate for the modern world.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu mentioned the role of women must be strengthened in the cross-cultural dialogs, politics, economy, culture, conflict resolution and other directions.
He stated the 10-Year Programme adopted in the OIC Mecca Conference in 2005 set protection and development of Islamic values as an objective. As known, Islam affirms equality of women. We support further expansion of these principles. The International Baku Forum has enough helped us in this mission.
Declaring the organization he represents is ready for all dialogs the Secretary General of OIC said people should live in mutual understanding.
Afterwards, E.Ihsanoglu read out the address by OIC.
Works done by Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the humanitarian sphere in Azerbaijan and outside have been emphasized in the address.
E.Ihsanoglu said cooperation between First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva and OIC in field of help to orphan and helpless children, people suffering from war and natural disasters is in the high level.
In the end, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu presented a diploma on the status of “Special Envoy of OIC for Humanitarian Affairs” to First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva.
Summing up the Forum Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva said:
Dear friends, I once again want to mention that we are always ready for cooperation on such important issues, for the dialog of cultures. I hope, as stated in the Baku Declaration, we again will meet in 2010. I once more congratulate you all on the successful completion of the Forum.
Thus, International Baku Forum “Expanding the Role of Women in Cross-Culture Dialogue” has come to an end.
