The Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science (ALECSO) Hosts Global Council for Tolerance and Peace President at “ALECSO Talks” Forum

TUNIS – The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) hosted H.E. Ahmed bin Mohamed Al Jarwan, President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace (GCTP), as a keynote speaker in its “ALECSO Talks” forum at its headquarters in Tunis. The forum featured a distinguished lecture titled “Dialogue in Light of Values: When Tolerance Becomes a Culture and Peace a Strategic Choice,” delivered before an audience of senior officials, experts, and leading figures in the Arab cultural and educational sectors.
In his address, Al Jarwan emphasized the urgent need for the Arab world to adopt values of tolerance, justice, and human dignity as essential foundations to confront today’s global challenges. “Tolerance is not a slogan or a temporary stance,” he asserted. “It is a conscious decision and a comprehensive framework that must begin in the classroom and be embedded in national policies and societal discourse.”

Al Jarwan described tolerance as a catalyst for peacebuilding, arguing that sustainable peace originates from the values instilled through education. He identified respect, justice, dignity, and freedom of belief as essential pillars of peace culture. “Today’s global crisis is, at its core, a moral crisis,” he said, calling for a new narrative rooted in mutual respect and constructive dialogue.

During the lecture, Al Jarwan also shared the GCTP’s practical experience in advancing tolerance through academic and diplomatic means. He highlighted initiatives such as the Master’s Program in Tolerance Studies and Global Peace, as well as the development of a pedagogical toolkit tailored for school students. The Council, he noted, integrates values of peace and coexistence through parliamentary diplomacy and partnerships with international bodies.

“Tolerance, like hatred, can be cultivated,” he affirmed, urging the integration of tolerance into Arab curricula and the strengthening of collaboration between GCTP and ALECSO to achieve shared goals.

In a key announcement, Al Jarwan revealed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between GCTP and ALECSO. The agreement seeks to enhance cooperation in curriculum development, teacher training programs, and the launch of the “Arab Declaration on Tolerance,” in coordination with the Arab League.
Concluding his remarks, Al Jarwan underscored that “tolerance is not a theoretical ideal but a daily practice and a strategic imperative.” He called for a holistic partnership to shape future Arab generations grounded in coexistence and rejecting division.