Culture of peace

Peace is not only the absence of direct physical violence and war, but also the elimination of structural violence. It refers to the inner freedom and spiritual elevation of the individual.
While religion may be a direct source of inter-group violence, it appears that religious conflicts have more to do with how people and culture define themselves than with religious doctrine. Intolerance ignited most wars, fuelled religious persecutions and violent ideological confrontations in Europe and elsewhere.
Tolerance, the virtue that makes peace possible, contributes to the replacement of the culture of war and violence by a culture of peace.
To establish a culture of peace, we need to consider that the other cultures and religions should not be misrepresented. Educational institutions and media outlets should not be used to propagate or perpetuate hate against any group of people and their recognised faiths and values. Islam, unfortunately, is still the target of stereotyping and misrepresentation. Concern for the well-being of others should stimulate our efforts to reach a common ground for action.
Each group must encourage and facilitate a shared responsibility to create a more sensitive, and welcoming environment for our diverse people.