President sees Malta as catalyst in promotion of ‘peace and religious tolerance’

Malta can be a regional catalyst to counteract terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism, the President of the Republic has claimed, “by promoting a culture of peace, justice and religious tolerance.”

In an address to the diplomatic corps, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said today that the world was facing a crossroad where unity and global solidarity are of key importance.

“Europe continued to witness a marked increase, of mainly young people, that have sought to travel to join terrorist groups. This group of young people seem to be mostly perplexed by where to place their trust and by the negativity of our societies. We must ensure that the youths of today are not marginalized and neglected but feel that they are valued and that their voices are heard, never forgetting that the future for all of us lies with them.”

The President called for a deeper understanding of the radicalization of youths and the “potentially disastrous effects on their home countries and communities” by returning fighters from the Middle East.

Coleiro Preca said that summits such as the Valletta Summit on Migration showed how Malta could act a bridge between two continents to address migration as a common concern.

“The dialogue initiated in Valletta, cannot, and must not, be viewed as a one-off occasion, but must continue, if we are to change the fate of so many people risking their life for better opportunities.

“Economic, social and environmental dimensions all impinge on migration, and this is why any discourse on sustainable development must include migration as a cornerstone. It is with great satisfaction that I see this concern included in the agreed United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and I commend everyone involved, for having the courage and vision, to acknowledge this, from a human rights standpoint. We need to view migration positively in this sense, and hence, we need to build bridges, not walls or borders.”

Coleiro Preca also broached the problem of violent extremism, terrorism, and the exploitation of the vulnerability of women and girls.

“Rape and systematic sexual and gender-based crimes are still the order of the day. Other realities for women across the globe include restrictions in education, access to healthcare and participation in public life, to mention a few. Sometimes, women’s situations are made even worse by natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

“Women are still mainly victims of conflict, or else are activists marching for peace, when they should also be leaders taking decisions alongside their male counterparts. I truly believe that leadership by women can make a difference in international peace and security by offering a complementary perspective, through a process of dialogue.”

The world’s peace of mind had been placed under attack by purveyors of fear and terror as people were faced with acts of directed cruelty “by a stark reminder of the evil that hides behind a mask of ideology, of perverted religion, of disordered culture” in Paris, Mali, Egypt, Turkey, Beirut, Nigeria, Tunisia, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, Palestine and Syria.

“The list is endless. Through acts of terror, lives are being destroyed, families torn apart, and livelihoods disrupted,” Coleiro Preca said.