STATEMENT BY MR MATTHEW WONG, FIRST SECRETARY OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 14, ON CULTURE OF PEACE, PLENARY, 14 JUNE 2023
14 June 2023
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Mr President,
1 Singapore aligns itself with the statement delivered by Brunei Darussalam on behalf of ASEAN, and adds the following points in our national capacity.
2 My delegation thanks the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on promoting a culture of peace and interreligious and intercultural dialogue. A culture of peace built upon strong and connected communities remains fundamental for a resilient, stable, and prosperous world.
Mr President,
3 Just as the world is emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, we face new headwinds of rising global tensions and growing inequality. In many countries, our social fabric is being put to the test. Misinformation and disinformation, amplified in today’s digital age, threaten to widen fault lines within societies. It may be tempting, in these circumstances, to retreat further into insularism. However, more than ever, we need to pursue collective action to deal with these challenges.
4 Collective action and achieving social cohesion are not spontaneous occurrences. This is a hard-won lesson Singapore knows all too well. A 2021 PEW Research Centre survey reported that Singapore, while ethnically and racially diverse, was “one of the least divided societies” surveyed. This is a far cry from Singapore’s turbulent 1950s and 1960s, where intercommunal tension boiled over into riots. Every step to get to where we are today has been deliberate and considered. We have enshrined multiracialism into our Constitution, recognising all persons as equal before the law and prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of religion and race. Multiracialism has also shaped many of our major national policies, with deliberate policies to ensure that no race is excluded or disadvantaged in fields spanning education, housing, and politics. We were proud to ratify the International Convention on the Eradication of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 2017, and presented our Initial Report to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in November 2021.
5 Articles 6 and 8 of the Declaration on a Culture of Peace recognise that not only governments but also civil societies and religious groups, play an important role in the full development of peace. This is something we recognise in Singapore as well. 20 years ago, Singapore established the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCC), a platform for community and religious leaders to have regular interactions to foster friendships and build trust.
6 Singapore will refresh the programmes of the IRCCs as well as renew and expand their composition, and rebrand the IRCCs as Racial and Religious Harmony Circles. We also continue to foster other avenues for dialogue, including with the broader international community. In September 2022, Singapore hosted the 2nd International Conference on Cohesive Societies, at the initiative of our President. It was attended by over 800 participants from more than 40 different countries, and different spheres including religious leaders, policymakers, academics, and civil society. The 2nd edition put the spotlight on the critical role of youth leadership in promoting social cohesion, and how technology can be used to bring together instead of divide communities.
Mr President,
7 We can and must continue to find strength in diversity and build bridges between communities to foster a culture of peace. Singapore wholeheartedly supports the Secretary-General’s efforts to promote a global culture of peace, and will continue working with the international community towards this common goal.
8 Thank you.
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