The word “tolerance” has more than one definition. The most prevalent synonym of tolerance is endurance. However, when we talk about world peace, tolerance signifies acceptance without any adverse reaction.
Accepting something might seem like a minute task when the truth is actually far from it. Human beings have been a victim of unfairness and prejudice, a harsh reality of humanity for even longer than the dawn of civilization, which has led to injustice, wars, and cruelty. All because people are unable to grasp the true meaning of tolerance.
There are many advocates who have been preaching the importance of tolerance, to instill a sense of oneness and acceptance amongst nations. H.E. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan is a distinguished personality who has made relentless efforts to cultivate a healthy and peaceful environment for everyone to live in.
Born on August 25, 1962, Al Jarwan is an Emirati diplomat known for peacebuilding and tolerance advocacy. He is the president of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, the General Union of Arab Experts, the Paris Forum for Peace and Development, and Chairman of the Executive Office of Arab Federations’ Forum.
The multilingual military man, pilot, and diplomat started his journey in Armed Forces, where he indulged himself in several leading positions. Later in his life, he got enrolled in the FNC elections with the support of his family and friends inside and outside the country. He was working as the head of Sharjah’s classical car museum back then. So, when he won a seat in the council, Al Jarwan was astounded.
However, he did not take the responsibility lightly. He worked night and day to achieve the goals of the UAE. According to him, the country’s foremost mandate was development, which can be achieved by improving the community’s living standards. He served his country and represented it as an emirati role model through his activities in building peace and advocating tolerance.
The country’s development is a success story and is well-known to all. Al Jarwan’s efforts have also aided the Arab world in having a strong presence throughout the region. In his speech in the Arab Parliament, he stated that he tries his best to keep his topics in the Arab Parliament away from politics and instead on issues that can unite them further, like denouncing and fighting terrorism, unison stance on Palestine, and illiteracy or poverty.
Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Jarwan played a significant role in preserving peace, tolerance, and relationships with different international entities such as UNESCO, the United Nations, and the Arab League. He has been an active and essential participant in all national and international activities and parliament meetings. His work has facilitated him to receive great recognition from dignitaries worldwide. He earned the 2020 Mahatma Gandhi International Award and has been recognized by the great leaders of countries like Argentina, Kosovo, Russia, Albania, Lebanon, and Comoros for his achievements in sustainable development, peace, tolerance, human development rights, and youth rights.
Believing in eduction as the main pillar to establish Tolerance and Peace in the world, Al Jarwan formed an academic advisory board within the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, to develop a master’s program in tolerance studies and global peace with the help of prominent professors from all over the world (USA, MEXICO, Albania, UK, and Portugal) , to be taught at different universities and targeting students who are keen to be tolerance advocators, peace builders and change makers. Futhermore, he is developing a series of books targeting academicians, politicians, decision makers and students to spead the culture of tolerance and the values of peace, such as “Paths to a culture of Tolerance and peace “ published in 2021.
Through his strong relationships with international and national parliaments, and his great efforts, he successfully managed to include more than 90 member states in the international parliament for Tolerance and peace, one of the main organs of the Council, and signed strategic agreements with them, to spread the culture of tolerance and the values of peace.
Looking forward, Al Jarwan is striving to raise the value of tolerance by spreading the culture of peace and fighting violence, discrimination, and racism. He intends to strengthen the principles of tolerance for achieving peace worldwide.