UNAOC, Pemuda Dunia dan Indonesia Al Busyra Basnur  ;   Pengamat Internasional

KORAN SINDO, 17 September 2014

                                                                                                                       

                                                      

Akhir Agustus 2014 Indonesia kembali menjadi pusat perhatian global. Kali ini dalam menggemakan aspirasi pemuda dunia tentang kerunyaman masa lalu, keprihatinan terkini, pentingnya pengawasan dan peningkatan kewaspadaan, memperkokoh komitmen serta diperlukannya tindak cepat tepat guna memelihara dan meningkatkan toleransi dengan mengutamakan kebersamaan di tengah perbedaan. Seratus pemuda dunia dari 42 negara, termasuk Indonesia, berkumpul di Nusa Dua, Bali. Pemuda terpilih! Itu julukan paling tepat buat mereka karena berhasil menyisihkan sekitar 3.000 pemuda hebat dunia yang semua berkompetisi ketat menjadi peserta Youth Forum , suatu rangkai kegiatan Global Forum VI pada United Nations Aliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). Kegiatan itu diselenggarakan Indonesia bersama UNAOC pada 29-30 Agustus 2014. Penting dicatat, Indonesia adalah negara pertama di Asia-Pasifik yang menjadi tuan rumah forum global UNAOC. Sebelumnya dan untuk pertama kali adalah Madrid (2008), disusul Istanbul (2009), Rio de Jenairo (2010), Doha (2011) dan Wina (2013). Forum global ini di Indonesia bertema Unity in Diversity: Celebrating Diversity for Common and Shared Values. Forum dihadiri 1.480 peserta dari 95 negara dan 23 organisasi internasional. Tujuannya meningkatkan pemahaman universal terhadap arti pentingnya solidaritas, toleransi, dan persatuan di tengah keberagaman latar belakang, budaya dan agama guna menuju dunia yang lebih maju dan damai. Pesertanya beragam, meliputi kalangan pemerintah, organisasi regional dan internasional, pengusaha, kelompok masyarakat madani, generasi muda, seniman, kelompok keagamaan, peneliti, lembaga pemikir, lembaga donor, yayasan dan media pers. Bagi Indonesia, forum ini tidak semata bermakna pengakuan global bahwa kita dengan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika menjadi contoh terbaik dunia dalam mewujudkan harmoni dalam keberagaman, toleransi di tengah begitu banyak kepentingan serta persatuan beralas aneka latar dan kalangan. Rekomendasi Pemuda Setelah membahas bersama perihal pendidikan, media, migrasi serta kewirausahaan dan lapangan kerja, para pemuda dunia itu menggemakan delapan butir rekomendasi untuk didengar di manapun masyarakat dunia. Dua perwakilan pemuda, Niwa Rahmad Dwitama (Indonesia) dan Ayunda Nxusani (Afrika Selatan), bersuara lantang membacakan rekomendasi itu di sesi plenary yang dihadiri para menteri, pejabat tinggi berbagai negara, dan tokoh terkemuka organisasi internasional. Di bidang pendidikan, pemuda mendesak pemimpin dunia agar ke depan melibatkan pemuda dalam merumuskan kebijakan pendidikan. Elemen-elemen pemahaman antarbudaya, penyelesaian masalah, resolusi konflik, dan membangun perdamaian diminta pula dimasukkan dalam kurikulum pendidikan apa pun tingkatannya. Di bidang media, pemuda menilai perlunya pembentukan week of cross-cultural awareness on media dan youth-led observatory on media. Tujuannya tidak lain untuk memastikan adanya akuntabilitas, transparansi, dan pertukaran pengetahuan. Dalam hal migrasi, para pemuda menyerukan membentuk kerja sama antara institusi lokal, pemerintah, dan PBB untuk menciptakan program berkelanjutan. Ini dimaksudkan untuk menumbuhkan kepedulian terhadap isu migrasi. Dalam bidang kewirausahaan dan lapangan kerja, pemuda mendesak pemerintah untuk mendorong kewirausahaan di kalangan pemuda, melalui kemitraan dengan sektor swasta dan masyarakat madani. Pemuda juga mengimbau agar disusun strategi interaktif untuk membuka lapangan pekerjaan dan penyediaan kondisi kerja yang kondusif bagi pemuda. Sekretaris Jenderal Perserikatan Bangsa Bangsa (PBB) Ban Ki-moon, yang hadir saat penutupan, mengakui pentingnya youth forum karena di forum itu dunia dapat mendengar aspirasi, menerima kontribusi dan mengajak untuk bersama membangun dunia yang lebih tenteram, damai, bersahabat, dan maju. Menteri Luar Negeri Marty M Natalegawa saat membuka forum pemuda itu mengingatkan pentingnya masyarakat dunia belajar lebih banyak dari pemuda mengenai nilai-nilai kebersamaan, kemasyarakatan, keterbukaan dalam berpikir dan wawasan luas. Nilai-nilai yang dimiliki pemuda tersebut terbukti menjadi pemersatu pemuda dari berbagai negara tanpa membedakan antara satu sama lainnya. Penyelamat Dunia Youth Forum pada UNAOC yang baru saja diselenggarakan di Indonesia jangan semata dilihat dari sisi pentingnya atau adanya kepentingan Indonesia dalam perjuangan pergerakan kontemporer pemuda dunia. Juga jangan semata dilihat besarnya atensi Indonesia dalam mengemban, membangun, dan memajukan nilainilai universal tentang peradaban, kebersamaan, dan toleransi di tengah keberagaman melalui gerakan pemuda. Forum pemuda UNAOC di Indonesia itu sekaligus melahirkan inspirasi, komitmen dan awal era baru sejarah perjuangan Indonesia dengan merangkul lebih banyak generasi muda internasional untuk bersama-sama menciptakan dunia yang lebih maju, aman, dan damai. Dunia dan kita sendiri mencatat jelas dan terukur, bahwa peran regional dan internasional Indonesia selama ini cukup dominan, terutama dalam satu dekade terakhir. Ini adalah suatu titik di mana kita tidak mungkin mengubah, apalagi memutar arah dari apa yang telah kita perjuangkan dan capai untuk kepentingan dunia. Pemerintahan baru ke depan diyakini pula sepenuhnya akan terus memberi peluang sebesar-besarnya kepada pemuda serta tidak hanya menempatkan generasi muda bangsa dan pemuda dunia sebagai aktor, melainkan juga sebagai pemikir sekaligus generasi penyelamat dunia. Dunia, yang di sana-sini memang terjadi kerusakan dan kehancuran. Indonesia sendiri telah membuktikan bahwa pemuda berada di barisan paling depan dalam momen-momen penting sejarah perjuangan bangsa. Lihat tahun 1908, 1928, 1945, 1966, dan 1998. Dino Patti Djalal, tokoh pemuda yang juga Wakil Menteri Luar Negeri RI, mengatakan bahwa pemuda harus ditempatkan pada posisi strategis, bukan sebaliknya, karena pemuda adalah lokomotif perubahan. Kesempatan menjadi tuan rumah Youth Forum bisa saja hanya sekali dalam perjalanan sejarah peran internasional Indonesia. Namun, Indonesia akan tetap dikenang masyarakat berbagai bangsa, khususnya kalangan muda, sebagai pusat inspirasi dan penggelora semangat untuk menciptakan kemajuan dan harmoni dunia di tengah keberagaman. ●

Testing times foor us all Erlan Idrissov  ;   The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan

JAKARTA POST, 28 Agustus 2014

                                                                                                                       

Indonesia is famous for its diversity. The country is made up of thousands of islands, and hundreds of languages, and people from many regions and ethnic groups. While the majority of the country’s citizens are Muslim, the spirit of religious tolerance that is enshrined in Indonesia’s Constitution remains one of its defining and inspiring characteristics. So Indonesia is an ideal place to host a UN forum that celebrates such diversity. The 2014 Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) brings together the nations of the world at a time of worrying and growing divisions along cultural and sectarian lines. Kazakhstan is proud to be playing its part in the summit. Like Indonesia, Kazakhstan is also a place of religious tolerance and freedom. On the Great Silk Road between Asia and Europe, we have always been a meeting point of cultures, religions and civilizations. As the home of many ethnic and religious groups who live together in peace we are also as proud of our Islamic heritage as our reputation for religious freedom, tolerance and diversity.   We have sought to share and spread these values through initiatives such as the Congress of World and Traditional Religions, which was established in 2003 in Kazakhstan. The Congress, which brings together leaders of all religions, provides a unique platform to discuss the important issues and challenges facing inter-religious and inter-civilization relations in the world today. And I am proud to say that in a little over a decade, the Congress has become a valuable international forum, working to foster a culture of peace and harmony between world religions. As the Congress has developed and grown in stature, it has established relations with other international organizations and fora, including the UN and the UNAOC. We greatly value their involvement and support for the Congress and our broader efforts to promote a culture of peace and harmony, including the initiative to proclaim 2013-2022 the “International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures”. Over the coming days, we will rightly celebrate the diversity and richness of human civilization. But all of us gathered here also know there can be no room for complacency.  Innocent civilians in Kazakhstan, in Indonesia and across the world are targeted by militants who detest freedom and harmony. Violent extremism poses a threat to peace and extremism in many countries. We must confront such evil directly. Indonesia has made great progress in rooting out extremists and combating such violence. But it is not a task any nation can achieve alone. We need to work together not just to tackle the threat posed by those of violence but also to counter messages of division and prejudice on which hatred feeds.    We hear them all around us. In too many places, anti-Muslim sentiment has become commonplace. Anti-Semitism is on the rise across Europe. Religious minorities face oppression and worse in many countries. When such attitudes are left unchallenged, violence can follow. From the world stage to local communities, leaders need to speak the language of tolerance and respect, not division and defamation. As beacons of tolerance and religious freedoms, Indonesia and Kazakhstan can and must help give a lead.  Wherever tensions divide communities, the opportunity exists for the UNAOC to build bridges and to help people move from conflict to collaboration. It is particularly important for the Alliance to work where risk is greatest. Right now, there are two situations that are especially urgent — the conflicts in Iraq and the ongoing impasse between Israelis and Palestinians. Both should be addressed in Indonesia. First, Kazakhstan stands in unity with the international community to deplore the bloodshed in Iraq. The country is an extraordinary mosaic of tribes, ethnicities, languages and religions. We witness in horror the sectarian violence and mass reprisals as the situation continues to worsen. When the conflict ends, Iraqis from all backgrounds will need help to rebuild damaged relationships so all can work together to restore their nation. The Alliance encourages efforts by partners — notably religious leaders from all denominations — to foster healing. But what will work for one country might not succeed in another. Progress in the Middle East Peace Process is long overdue. The loss of life in the recent violence was deeply harrowing. Each day of bloodshed takes us further from the agreed goal of a two-state solution. A durable peace requires the resumption of meaningful negotiations backed by international engagement. But Israelis and Palestinians remain polarized. We should be particularly worried about the region’s youth. A generation of young people on both sides is at risk of growing up with a dehumanized and utterly false concept of their neighbors. We must help them to see them not as enemies but as fellow human beings. There is a huge amount to do. It is why Kazakhstan, along with Indonesia and other partners, is so committed to the success of the UNAOC. It remains an initiative of tremendous importance. At this time of test for the human family, let us all do our part to see it thrive. ●

Indonesia and UNAOC: Fostering unity on a global scale Dimas Muhamad  ;   The writer works at the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry

JAKARTA POST, 28 Agustus 2014

                                                                                                                       

“Improbable nation” is the term that Elizabeth Pisani, a renowned American writer, coins to describe Indonesia in her latest book. Collin Brown, a professor from Australia, also refers to our country as an “unlikely nation” in his book.  The monikers embody the authors’ shared bewilderment regarding how more than 240 million people with 490 ethnic groups, who speak over 700 mother tongues, profess various faiths and live on a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands can come to feel that they somehow share a common bond. We often take it for granted, but the very fact that there is such a thing as “Indonesia” uniting this hodgepodge of myriad different identities is a marvel in itself.  Thus, it is fitting for Indonesia to host the 6th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC) in Bali that will take place Aug. 29-30. Under the theme “Unity in Diversity: Celebrating Diversity for Common and Shared Values”,  the UNAOC is an initiative launched by the secretary-general of the United Nations in 2005. It seeks to overcome the prejudice and polarization that has plagued the international community, particularly between the West and the Islamic world, since 9/11. The forum this year will be the first ever convened in the Asia-Pacific.  The forum is timely, as threats to diversity increasingly loom large across the globe. The ongoing atrocities committed by ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) that fan the flames of sectarian division in the region; the Israeli assaults in Gaza that are intertwined with the rancor between the two peoples; and the continuing tragedy of the Rohingyas Muslims, who remain stateless, offer proof that identity-driven conflicts continue to haunt us.  Apparently, despite the globalization that our world has undergone, when it comes to respect for diversity, clouds remain on the horizon.  The plain truth is that whether we like it or not, diversity is a fact of life. The 7 billion people that live on this planet have a multitude of different identities. We cannot afford to lose our spirit of tolerance. If bigotry against those who are different from us grows even stronger, then we will all be doomed. Aside from that, there are tremendous economic benefits generated by diversity. In a survey conducted by Forbes involving 321 major global enterprises, 85 percent agreed or strongly agreed that a diverse workforce was crucial in driving innovation, which is the engine for robust economic growth. In short, embracing diversity is imperative not only for mankind to survive but also to thrive.  To this end, the UNAOC is a critical global platform. It can bolster mutual understanding and cooperation through cross-cultural and inter-faith dialogue. It is noteworthy that the UNAOC has pursued inclusive and practical strategies in achieving its objectives — like, for, instance striving to engage youth as one of its chief priorities. In the run-up to the global forum in Bali there will even be a special youth event.  Indonesia also has a pivotal role to play by becoming a civilizational bridge. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world and at the same time is the world’s third largest democracy. The latest presidential election signals just how vibrant our democracy has become. At a time when suspicions between the Islamic world and the West are on the rise, Indonesia should endeavor to show that Islam preaches mercy and need not be seen as antithetical to democracy or human rights. Moreover, Indonesia has proposed the adoption of a legally binding instrument against the denigration of faith that will be essential to promoting mutual trust and warding off inflammatory incitements that only fuel further tensions.  Hosting the UNAOC forum does not mean that we assume the moral high ground. Indeed, we should harness it as an opportunity for us to reflect and to address the lingering challenges that our country faces, including with respect to religious intolerance. We should continue to fight tooth and nail to protect the diversity at home that the overwhelming majority of Indonesians embrace.    Fostering trust and harmony between civilizations is no easy feat and will certainly not occur overnight. Nevertheless, the UNAOC Global Forum should reaffirm the international community’s commitment to championing diversity as one of its greatest assets. It will also serve as a platform for strengthening partnerships among all parties to make the world a safer place for diverse populations. As ferocious conflicts between “us” and “them” persist in many parts of the world, we may think that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. However as the story of Indonesia shows, no matter how “improbable” or “unlikely” it might seem, cherishing unity in diversity is not just desirable, it is also possible. ●