FIAV at United Nations forum in DOHA
On the occasion of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) 4th Forum held in Doha, Qatar on 11-13 December 2011, FIAV's President Mr Vasan Srinivasan promoted several major milestones of Multiculturalism in Victoria.
"To me multiculturalism is just how life is. I am an Indian born, raising a family in Australia, living in the house to the right is a Chinese family and to the left is a Greek family. When I go out to work in the morning, I see all Australian families going to work as well. When you look down the street there are many different people from many different nationalities. All of us have been living together for many years now, said Mr Srinivasan in his remarks during one of the breakout sessions."
More than 2,000 participants, including political and corporate leaders, civil society activists and faith communities gathered in Qatar to take part in the UNAOC Forum to discuss how to improve relations across cultures, combat prejudice and build lasting peace.
As the Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the UNAOC Australian civil society chapter, which is being established under the auspices of the Global Dialogue Foundation, Mr Srinivasan representing the Indian community is working closely with leaders from; Australian Indigenous, Pacific Islands, Chinese and African communities, to offer the opportunity for community-based and grassroots organisations to connect with the UNAOC, its programs and its partners.
The UNAOC Forum offered opportunities to create international partnerships, to form new UNAOC civil society chapters and to expand on momentum going forward with understanding for each other’s culture, background, language and faith.
FIAV is proud to be part of the UNAOC civil society chapter in Australia and extends an opportunity to all Indian organisations, but also to organisations of all cultures living in Australia, to join.
