Ottawa, 11 February 2016 — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was the guest of honour at a private luncheon at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat today. The event underscored the importance of accommodating and valuing diversity around the world in order to build more peaceful and prosperous societies.
Co-hosted by John McNee, Secretary-General of the Global Centre for Pluralism, and Dr Mahmoud Eboo, Aga Khan Development Network Resident Representative for Canada, the luncheon was also attended by Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Dion and the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau.
During the luncheon, Mr McNee asserted that the challenge of advancing pluralism is central to both the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Government of Canada’s agenda. Dr Eboo highlighted areas in which the AKDN, the UN and Canada have collaborated in building civil society capacity in fragile and conflict-afflicted states, and affirmed that the Secretary-General’s visit served to fortify the historical bonds between Mawlana Hazar Imam, the Government of Canada, and the United Nations.
The Secretary-General commended the work of the Global Centre for Pluralism for “making this world better, where the diversity of our society will be respected.”