FM Retno to ASEAN Youth: Be the Agent for Tolerance and Ambassadors for Peace

FM Retno to ASEAN Youth: Be the Agent for Tolerance and Ambassadors for Peace

FM Retno to ASEAN Youth: Be the Agent for Tolerance and Ambassadors for Peace

Friday, 19 October 2018

[Original Indonesian Text & Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia: https://www.kemlu.go.id/id/berita/Pages/Menlu-Retno-kepada-Kaum-Muda-ASEAN-Jadilah-Agen-Toleransi-dan-Duta-Perdamaian.aspx]

 

Unofficial Translation:

 

“I believe that there is no better way forward than to empower the youth as agents of peace, ambassadors for tolerance and engines of economic growth in the region”, said Foreign Minister Retno in front of youth representatives from ASEAN Member States, and four hundred Indonesian students, attending the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) Youth Conference in Jakarta.

 

Nevertheless, FM Retno also reminded that in the midst of situation where religions, ethnicities, ideologies are being pitted against one another for narrow, short-sighted interests, the Youth could easily be victimised, or even chose to spread the likes of fake news, messages of intolerance and hate, namely through social media.

 

Therefore, in light of transforming such challenges into opportunities in order to shape the region into a prosperous one, FM Retno underscored the importance of developing the following conditions: (1) enabling environment for the Youth to develop their creativity; (2) an open and tolerant society; and, (3) a synergy of views and aspirations amongst generations, in order to strengthen tolerance, and to displace the propaganda of violent extremism.

 

The ASEAN-IPR Youth Conference with the theme Building Unity and Common Understanding in Countering Intolerance and Violent Extremism had become a very relevant platform. The Conference aims to involve the Youth in the effort to fulfil peace and reconciliation in the region, namely to counter the threat of intolerance and violent extremism.

 

The Conference is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, in collaboration with the ASEAN-IPT and the Mission of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN in Jakarta.

 

The activity consist of three (3) discussion sessions, bringing together distinguished panellists in the field of youth, counter-terrorism and counter-intolerance. Several side events were also organised, in order to channel youth creativity and aspirations in the promotion of peace and advancement of tolerance.

 

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