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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth and UNESCO join forces to combat 'divisive pluralism'

1 February 1999

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) are bringing together academics, politicians and representatives of civil society from 24 countries to discuss ways of ensuring that cultural, ethnic and religious diversity is recognised and appreciated as a source of enrichment, and that it does not become the source of division, tension and conflict.

From 28 to 30 January 1999 the invited participants will attend a joint Commonwealth Secretariat/UNESCO colloquium entitled Towards a Constructive Pluralism. They will focus on the role of the state and civil society both in combating 'divisive pluralism' and in promoting a constructive pluralism for the future. Recommendations for action by the two organisations and the wider international community are expected. Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku said in a statement today:

Diversity or pluralism is a positive phenomenon. But as the history of the post Cold War period illustrates, when cultural, ethnic, religious and other differences are allowed - or deliberately exploited - to cause division, the result can be serious, even armed, conflict.

I fear that unless appropriate action is taken, what I call 'divisive pluralism' will constitute one of the key threats to the peace of the twenty-first century. This colloquium can make an important contribution to averting that prospect and help to ensure that people from different cultures are able to live together in harmony.

Chief Anyaoku and UNESCO Director-General Dr Federico Mayor will each deliver a Keynote Address to open the colloquium, between 9.30 and 10.45 am on Thursday 28 January in Room IV, UNESCO Headquarters, 7 Place de Fontenoy, Paris 75007.

Other information about the Colloquium - including the Agenda and Timetable, List of Participants and Overview Paper - can be found on UNESCO's Internet site at: http://www.unesco.org/culture/culturalpluralism.

Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
United Kingdom.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678

99/06
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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int