Vice President for Strategic Partnerships David Caprara addresses the First Forum for World Peace Awards in Dubai.
Delegates of leading international peace award–conferring organizations gathered in Dubai on April 17-18, 2013 at the First World Peace Awards Forum. Participants at this first-of-its-kind gathering sought to exchange best practices in the development of standards related to international peace awards, and to raise the bar for peace building around the world.
Mohammad Abdullah Bu Hannad, Secretary General of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace, told Gulf News that “the main aim of this forum is getting the Peace Awards together in one place where we can sit, talk and learn from one another.”
Representing the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), Vice President for Strategic Partnerships David Caprara, GPF Malaysia Chair Tan Sri Ismail, and GPF Malaysia Executive Director Dr. Su Thye Teh thanked organizers for convening the groundbreaking forum, inspired by the vision of His Highness Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh of United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In his presentation to delegates, Mr. Caprara offered a comprehensive overview of GPF’s peace building initiatives in 15 countries, guided by a commitment to building interfaith partnerships, strengthening families and communities, and fostering a culture of service, particularly among youth. He also described GPF’s Global Peace Awards, conferred annually in areas of service, faith-based social action, governance, family strengthening initiatives, and scholarship.
“We have launched in Dubai an ongoing process of best practices exchange and gained new insight into the invaluable leadership role of UAE and Dubai in fostering the true image of Islam as a force for good and peace,” Mr. Caprara said.
From left: GPF Malaysia delegation meet with a representative of Dubai Cares at the International Humanitarian City; GPF Malaysia presents information on the 2013 Global Peace Convention in Kuala Lumpur in December 2013; GPF VP David Caprara meets children at the Zayed Higher Organisation, a leading facility for children with special needs.
Addressing the forum, Tan Sri Ismail summarized the significant GPF-backed development projects in Malaysia and introduced Malaysia as the host country for GPF’s 2013 Global Peace Convention in December.
International Humanitarian City
Dubai’s International Humanitarian City (top) and modern skyline.
Tan Sri Ismail and Dr. Teh also toured the International Humanitarian City (IHC), a model global village and peace center established by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, then Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai in 2003. The IHC has grown to become one of the world’s largest and busiest logistics hubs for humanitarian aid, with nine UN agencies and 44 NGOs and businesses as members. The IHC is currently chaired by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Distinguished participants at the forum included the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace, International Humanitarian City, Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, Dubai Sports Council, Noor Dubai, Dubai Cares, Mohammed bin Rashid Charity and Humanitarian Establishment, Costa Rica-based University of Peace, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.
“The 1st World Peace Awards Forum 2013 was an important event that attracted international expertise in the efforts to achieve world peace,” said Mohamed Buhannad, Secretary General of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace. He said the forum “provided an excellent platform for debate and discussions in line with the vision of the UAE leadership to create peace and cooperation between all the countries.”
