The intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the Mediterranean is an important pathway for peace,

security and for combating fundamentalisms and terrorism. This was the major topic at the centre of

discussions during the 2nd Meeting of the Standing Committee on Dialogue among Civilisations and

Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. The Committee is under the

presidency of the Italian Senator Learco Saporito and the vice-presidency of the Syrian MP Mr Salah

Toma. The meeting was held at the PAM Headquarters in Malta.

It was pointed out that while technology and communications have developed, understanding between

cultures has not held the same pace and therefore there is still need for all to open up and learn more

about each other. Diversity is a distinctive characteristic of the Mediterranean, a region which has always

been a meeting place for the most diverse cultures and religions.

To this end, with National Parliaments playing a central role, it is necessary to work towards fresh

structural considerations to uphold new transnational policies. These will encourage positive acts of

international cooperation that promote social integration throughout the multiethnic and multicultural

environments throughout the Mediterranean. The dialogue between the Mediterranean countries can be

further enhanced if theories claiming that there is a clash of civilizations, or a confrontation between the

North and the South, are put aside or discussed within a more sophisticated perspective. Lack of

understanding is often a question of ignorance rather than a clash between cultures and religions.

During the 1st Meeting of the Special Task force on Gender Equality issues, representatives from

participating countries gave an account about national legislation and experiences in relation to the role of

women within their respective social, economic, cultural and political environments. It was stressed that

man and women must share the same opportunities at all levels and that gender equality can only be

achieved if women are empowered to manage autonomously their own lives. Differing ideas were aired as

to whether positive discrimination in both western and Islamic societies is actually the best solution

towards the improvement of the women’s role in society.

On a general note the Secretary General of PAM, Sergio Piazzi, also launched the idea of a Mediterranean

Day to be held annually on 21st March and a PAM prize to reward individuals, organizations and

institutions who have actively promoted, through their work and activities, the Mediterranean ideals.

Caption Pix 1: Opening session of the 2nd Meeting of the Standing Committee on Dialogue

among Civilisations and Human Rights – PAM

Caption Pix 2: PAM Standing Committee President, Italian Senator Learco Saporito (centre)

flanked on the left by vice-president Syrian MP Salah Toma, and on the right by PAM General

Secretary Sergio Piazzi.