General Women, Peace and Security

We must support women, respect their capabilities and include them in all efforts to achieve justice among peoples. We must not discriminate and we must respect the particularities of all societies. 

Due concern must be given to discussing extremist ideas and refuting them. Young men and women must be encouraged, through social networks and international cooperation, to counteract the ability of these organizations to exploit the virtual world to market terrorism. Common human values must be valued and emphasized.

Al Azhar is also working globally through the Muslim Council of Elders, which is led by the Sheikh of Al Azhar and includes members from different nations of the Muslim world, to spread international peace. The Council, in cooperation with Al Azhar, has launched peace convoys to 15 nations throughout the world.

The Al Azhar Islamic Research Academy has worked to combat the ideology of these organizations that practice violence and killing and threaten peace in societies. It has demonstrated the relationship of these groups to the Khawarij, who emerged in the early history of Islam owing to a deviation in their theology, which led to the takfiri ideology.

We also need to listen carefully to affected communities. We need to engage at the grass-roots level. We need to partner with faith leaders, women and young people. 

The Security Council recognized the value and role of young people and young peacebuilders in its historic resolution 2250 (2015) of December last year. That resolution will, I am sure, turn out to be the equivalent for young people of what resolution 1325 (2000) is for women and security.