Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance was held in five provinces of Afghanistan
The Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance was held simultaneously in Kabul, Badakhshan, Paktia, Balkh and Herat provinces by the initiative of the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization in cooperation with national and international organizations.
In these symposiums, speakers and experts spoke about “Role of academic institutions in bringing peace, prosperity and mutual acceptance” and provided answers to the participants’ questions.
Mohammad Khalid Ramizy, CEO of Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization; delivered his opening remarks at the inauguration of the Youth Symposium on Peace and Tolerance in Kabul by saying, “Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization is proud because today Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance was organized and Held in 5 provinces of the country at the same time.”
Referring to more than a decade long activity of the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization Mr. Ramizy said: “AELSO is connected with around 500 think tanks worldwide. Furthermore, in 2019 as a result of the University of Pennsylvania’s assessment of the activities of academic and intellectual institutions at the international level, AELSO has taken the 54th place.”
The Executive Director of Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization added: “The Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance is one of the ongoing and strategic programs of this organization; This year it will be held in most of Afghanistan’s provinces with the participation of students and young people, and the results of these symposiums, along with Islamic and Liberalism discourse programs and Think Big conference, will be published in a research book.”
Continuing with the program, Dr. Atefa Tayeb, key speaker at the Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance in Kabul Province, thanked Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization and said: “Academic institutions are the beating heart of lasting peace and mutual acceptance in the country and these kinds of programs are inherently new and unprecedented initiatives in Afghanistan that AELSO has undertaken. The outcome of these symposiums will help the Government of Afghanistan to pursue a policy of peace, prosperity and mutual acceptance.”
Professor Atefa Tayeb, emphasized on the fundamental role of academic institutions, by saying that academic institutions should be the stronghold of Peace and Tolerance against extremism with the essence of knowledge. She proposed her plans in the field of peace and Tolerance as, “Given the current situation, academic institutions are expected to use these methods to bring Afghan Peace vessels to its destination:
- Cultivating the cultural of peace;
- Research on the roots and causes of war and violence;
- Presenting peace plans, programs and policies taking into account the structure of our society;
- Challenging the narrative of extremist groups through student organizations and launching academic discourses;
- Support from the works of institutions such as AELSO who are working with a number of challenges in order to promote the idea of liberty in the country.
- Eliminating fundamentalist tendencies and ideas among students in academic institutions;
- Establishment of Peace Studies Centers and Peace Faculties in Afghanistan universities;
- Transforming the State Ministry on Peace Affairs into an academic and practical policy-making body in the field of peace.”
Dr. Abdul Azim Mommand; Professor in Kabul University and one of the symposium’s experts, examined the causes of extremism in academic institutions from the perspective of social psychology and the living conditions of the people. Mr. Mommand added, “Economic deprivation, lack of proper knowledge of religion, and closed environments at school and university make it easy for college students to fall into the trap of extremism. Therefore, the way out of this challenge is to raise the level of public awareness and pave the way for open discourses so that students can, as a result of the discourse, choose the right path and get rid of extremism.”
In the next part of the symposium, participants and experts discussed peace, prosperity, tolerance and how to fight extremism. The participants of the symposium considered the holding of such programs in line with the culture of peace and tolerance as valuable and useful, and one of the participants said: ” Youth symposium for peace and tolerance is a valuable opportunity for experts and students to share their opinions and discuss matters of peace, tolerance and other ideas of a free society. Furthermore, as a result of this symposium, we young people can learn ways to promote the values of peace and mutual acceptance, as well as how to fight extremism, and promote it in society.”
At the Youth Symposium on Peace and Reconciliation – Kabul, the book “Peace, Love and Liberty” from the publications of the AELSO, as an academic resource for learning about the values of peace, tolerance and other values of a free society, by Mohammad Khalid Ramizy, Executive Director of the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization was introduced and distributed to Symposium participants.
The Youth Symposium on Peace and Tolerance was also held on the topic of “The Role of Academic Institutions in Bringing Peace, Prosperity and Tolerance” by the initiative of Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization (AELSO) in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province.
The symposium was attended by university professors, cultural and social activists, civil society activists, students, and a number of young people, both male and female. Salahuddin Qarizada, representative of the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization in Badakhshan province, first introduced the organization and explained its goals and functions.
In this program, Professor Abdul Mosawer Sias Noori, a member of the academic staff of Badakhshan University, spoke about the role of academic institutions in bringing peace, prosperity and tolerance, and presented academic, valuable and meaningful cases.
Furthermore, Professor Saifuddin Siyas, Head of Badakhshan civil society institutions assembly Dr. Abdul Qadir Baran, Cultural and Social Activist, Safiullah Zarifi and Bargi Khalili, Members of the Academic Staff of Badakhshan University, Seyed Mohibollah Saiedy; National TV reporter Abdul Samad Nazari, Mohieddin Forootan, Seyed Mirullah Mirzad, Ramin Rufat and a number of other young people commented on the issue and asked questions from the keynote speaker which were answered by the speakers of the program academically. The youth symposium in Badakhshan province was also covered by national and local media.
A youth symposium for peace and mutual acceptance was held in Balkh province with the participation of expert guests and students. In this conference, brief and clear information about the function and general activities of the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization (AELSO) throughout the country, especially in Balkh province, was presented to the participants by Mr. Seyed Ghani Maqsoudyar, representative and head of AELSO’s Balkh provincial office. Later on, according to the agenda, Professor Mohammad Nasser Amini spoke about the role of academic institutions in bringing peace, prosperity and mutual acceptance, which came to the attention of the participants. Academic and reasonable answers to the participants’ questions were also provided.
Then, Mr. Maulana Abdul Ahad Movahed discussed extremism from the perspective of Islam and provided brief information on the causes of extremism in the environment and society, especially in academic institutions and universities. Despite the discussion and exchange of views in this part of the program, several questions were answered about the roots and basis of extremism and its adverse consequences among the youth and society, and strategies for overcoming this problem were discussed.
Moreover, in the Youth Symposium for Peace and tolerance – Balkh, Professor Seyed Hanif Sabeti; professor of Islamic Sharia, described the role of the youth in achieving lasting peace and welfare, and called for the immediate efforts of the youth in the important religious matter to promote peace and tolerance.
In the Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance – Herat, first Sayed Bashir Tariq, Provincial Fellow of the organization, gave information about the functions and activities of Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization and the goals of the symposium, Furthermore, Sayed Gholam Mohammad Rahmani, University Professor and Head of Justice of Herat province added: “We have done very little for our youths under current situations, and has taken us away from our goal and our way and there was no one to guide us. With such initiatives such as the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization (AELSO) who have the youth in mind are very welcome and we appreciate it. This organization with their activities are paving way for the Afghan youth to create a peaceful and prosperous society.”
Commenting on the role of academic institutions in bringing peace and tolerance, Professor Rahmani said: “Everything we have today is the product of yesterday, whether it’s good or bad. Academic institutions must do useful work for peace and tolerance. For example, talk to their students about peace and tolerance during their lessons. Unfortunately, so far, no academic institution has done this and has done nothing for promotion of tolerance. They have not even presented a conference or seminar on this topic. Therefore, the academic institutions must take practical measures with a useful plan and program for the youth and for the next generation, so that we can have a bright and united future among the different ethnic groups in Afghanistan. And academic institutions must first include a theme in their curriculum called peace and tolerance.”
Moreover, in the Paktia Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance, Abdul Ghafoor Saleh, Provincial Representative of the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization, briefed participants on the Organization’s activities and achievements and the goals of the symposium program.
Professor Niazullah Asil, professor in Paktia University, thanked the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization for its initiative and spoke about the role of academic institutions in bringing peace, prosperity and tolerance. He also added: “In order to promote peace and tolerance, our youths can play a very important and vital role. Paying attention to intellectual development and educating young people about peace can pave the way for peace and mutual acceptance. We must also be committed to words and deeds so that the political, social and cultural ideas of peace can lead to lasting peace and prosperity in the country through logical means.”
In the Working Group section of the Youth Symposium on Peace and Tolerance, event participants discussed how to promote tolerance, oppose extremism, and youth responsibility for Afghanistan’s future, and finally the group representatives presented specific suggestions and solutions in these areas. Eventually, group representatives presented their specific suggestion and solutions regarding these issues to the participants and guests. Participants of youth symposium for peace and tolerance; The study of transitional justice, self-awareness, comprehensive study of issues, youth responsibility, job creation and awareness were among the basic strategies to promote the values of peace, mutual acceptance, prosperity and the fight against extremism.
In the final part of the symposium programs in Kabul, Badakhshan, Balkh, Paktia and Herat provinces, a participation certificate with a CD entitled “Ideas for Peace & Prosperity” was awarded to each participant and the first round of the Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance in the above-mentioned provinces ended with the wish for peace, mutual acceptance and ensuring the prosperity of the Afghan people. The results of these series of symposiums will be published in a research book from the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization at the end of this year.
