HALT – AN UNDERSTANDING

The intention of Halt:

A promising future for every young person… by learning from mistakes and making them right. Young people learn by investigating and exploring boundaries. Sometimes they go too far. Cross-border behavior poses a threat to a promising future. Knowing your limits and acting on them is important for a promising future.

Halt therefore wants to help young people to prevent mistakes, let them learn from mistakes and give them the opportunity to correct mistakes once made. This has helped young people themselves, but also victims of transgressive behavior and society in the broadest sense.

Vision of Halt:

Halt is active where young people are active. Stop is therefore:

• In connection  with both the justice chain and the local youth partners: schools, neighborhood teams, youth institutions and sports associations.

• In development  to provide increasingly better tailor-made solutions, aimed at the problems of the young person and the impact that the young person’s behavior has on victims and society.

• In control by professional employees and good business operations.

Children’s rights collective:

Halt is a partner of the Children’s Rights Collective. The Children’s Rights Collective monitors the implementation and compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the Netherlands, in law, policy and practice. Together we stand up for children’s rights.

Why go to halt?:

The young people seek assistance from halt because many a times they do not know what to do when a line is crossed. Crossing a line may look small. However, a combination of activities and the number of times line is crossed may have a significant impact on the youth and may normalize criminal behaviour among them. Halt deals with solution to criminalization of youth and the crossing of boundaries.

How does the Halt penalty work?:

The Halt penalty is a penalty tailored to the offense or offense and to the young person. The number of hours the punishment lasts depends on a number of points such as age and the seriousness of the situation.

A Halt penalty can consist of the following parts:

• Conversations between young person, parents and the Halt employee.
• Creating learning assignments.
• Offering apologies.
• Compensate for any damage.
• A work order.
• Practicing (social) knowledge.
• Decrease of the signalling instrument.

Consequences of the Halt penalty?

A positively completed Halt sentence is not included in the judicial documentation. A young person therefore does not get a ‘criminal record’. If a young person refuses a Halt sentence or does not comply with his agreements, he is usually fined. A number of public order violations can also result in judicial documentation (a criminal record) when this fine is accepted. Think of rowdyness, public drunkenness and the possession of alcohol, for example.

Police records

Although the Halt sentence does not provide judicial documentation, the offense and the imposition of the Halt sentence are recorded in the police records (even if a young person refuses a Halt sentence). Usually the police keep the data about the Halt sentence for five years.

Registration Halt

Halt registers personal data* of parent(s), juveniles and others involved in the Halt sentence, in order to be able to properly implement it. If necessary, Halt shares personal data of parents and young people with organizations with which Halt collaborates, such as the police, the Public Prosecution Service and the Council for Child Protection. Halt adheres to privacy regulations both when registering and when sharing information with other organizations. Halt does not store the data for more than five years.

* Personal data is all data that can be traced back to a person. For example: name, address and telephone number, but also the name and date of birth of parents. This data is stored digitally. Halt does not record more data than is necessary.

Declaration of Good Conduct (VOG)

When a young person successfully completes his Halt sentence, there is no problem in getting a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG). You may sometimes need a VOG for a job or education. However, there are training courses, internships and jobs for which the police must conduct an investigation (screening). Think of training as a security guard or flight attendant, or an internship or job with the police or Marechaussee. During a screening, the chief of police may consider the Halt sentence in his decision. He then looks at the criminal offense, the circumstances under which the offense was committed, the chance of repetition and recent personal developments.

It is incorrect if a study program states on its website or in the brochure that a young person will not be admitted if he/she has had a Halt sentence. This is because a decision must be made by the chief of police (see above). Please note: sometimes this consideration can lead to a refusal. If you are refused a course, internship or job and you do not agree with this, you can object.

Refer to help

During the Halt penalty, the Halt employee investigates whether there is more to it. This is done on the basis of a nationally developed and recognized signaling list. Does a young person suffer from depression after the divorce of his parents or because he is transsexual and does not feel recognized at school? Is extra help needed because the family is in a difficult financial situation and therefore experiences a lot of stress? Does a young person often use drugs or alcohol? In such cases, Halt, together with the young person and parents (or other caregivers), can look for suitable help and initiate it, for example the neighborhood team. If care is already involved with the young person or the family, Halt will coordinate with this care provider. In case of serious concerns, we start the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Reporting Code and we have consulted with Safe Home.

Role of parents

Parents and educators are important at Halt. That is why Halt looks together with them to see what is needed to let their child learn from the (cross-border) behaviour. A good relationship between parent and child contributes to a positive development of young people. Especially when young people cross a border, parental involvement is indispensable. That is why Halt involves parents in the Halt sentence. They are present at conversations. But they also support their child during the Halt sentence, for example by offering an apology.

Halt supports parents in their role as educators. By giving parents more responsibility and strengthening their parenting skills. This contributes to a long-term positive development of the young person. After all, parents remain involved in their child’s life. If more help is needed, Halt and parents can look into additional help, for example from the neighbourhood team.

Importance of parent involvement

Research shows that strengthening parental involvement and parenting skills can help prevent criminal behavior among young people. It is important to involve parents at an early stage. As a young person gets older, the influence of friends, school attendance and leisure activities also increases .

Problems with parenting skills, such as little supervision and poor communication between parents and child, can increase the chance of criminal behavior. That is why it is good to look at how we can strengthen the parenting skills of parents.

Our approach with parents

During the Halt sentence, we want to empower parents to take responsibility and influence their child’s behavior. The approach is that we stand next to parents and together we look at what is necessary for their child. How does Halt do this?

• Halt usually involves parents in the start, apology and final meeting.
• Parents are involved in parts of the Halt punishment, for example in making the teaching assignments.
• Parents support their child in offering an apology and are also involved in a recovery interview.
• With the Parents on Turn method, parents use “cause cards” to talk to their child. They discuss why the child has done something criminal. And they make a plan that they want to work on together.
• If necessary, a Halt employee will speak separately with parents in a parent meeting. Then there is more room to discuss sensitive topics.

For all further information on the organization Halt please refer the link: https://www.halt.nl/.

Article by – Aniruddh Rajendran

Project name: Preventing, protecting and supporting missing children from harm across national borders

Brief Description: Every year there are many children who go missing in the European Union. This is due to conflict and abuse suffered by the children. This requires a programme that understands the root causes of the problems and resolving them so as to ensure that children do not go missing from various countries within the European Union due to them being exposed vulnerable situations such as conflict and abuse.

To address the issue of child disappearances project aims to:

• Collect data on extent, root causes & risks + caseload from hotlines & mediators
• Raise awareness on causes, risks & vulnerabilities of missing children + on services available to prevent & respond
• Sustain, develop & coordinate a network of hotlines for missing children & of Cross-Border Family Mediators, train key actors & help sustain & improve multidisciplinary cooperation
• Promote an integrated child protection approach in European & national policies / laws
• Measure impact & effectiveness of initiatives & programmes. Thematically, activities focus on runaways / forced ways, parental abductions & children in migration

Project name: Appropriate Community-Based Care and Empowering Support Services for Migrants Affected by Gender Based Violence

Brief Description: The fundamental aim of this project is to ensure that appropriate community based care and empowering support services are provided to migrant women in Belgium, UK and Spain. Many of these Migrant Women are victims of different kinds of sexual harassment due to their vulnerable economic situation.

To address the issue of Community-Based Care and Empowering Support Services for Migrants Affected by Gender Based Violence the project aims to:

– To train male and female GBV peer counsellors from the community

– To train key professionals to understand multiple forms of GBV in a multicultural context

– To raise awareness through development of digital tools

– To facilitate access to appropriate support and protection services

– To provide online support services in key ethnic minority languages

– To disseminate and sustain the results of the project at national and EU levels Activities

– Training of GBV peer counsellors and key professionals

– Outreach activities and online and face to face support services

– Evaluation of the process and impact Type and number of persons benefiting from the project

Project name: WAVE (Women against Violence Europe) European Network on Preventing Violence against Women and Children

Brief Description:  The aim of the project is the prevention of violence against women and children in the European Union.

To prevent violence against women and children in the European Union the following steps will be taken under the project:

• Build the capacity and sustainability of WAVE Network.
• Increase number of specialist women’s support services (WSS) and improve access by vulnerable groups;
• Facilitate multi-agency cooperation.
• Conduct research and European data collection on VAW and WSS; Improve cross-border cooperation and victims’ support; Raise awareness and disseminate knowledge of VAW and EU laws/policies Activities Advisory Board Meetings, Board Meetings, General Assembly, Capacity Building of WAVE Office, Fundraising & Mentoring, Improving Network Structure, Working Groups, Research on WSS, Data Collection Tool, WAVE Report, WAVE Statistics, Handbooks, Multidisciplinary Trainings, Training Institute, Campaign, Lobbying, Conference, Information Centre, Database, Dissemination, Study Visits, Webinars Beneficiaries, Victim support services, Law enforcement, Gender equality professionals, National/EU policymakers, Victims, Media and General Public Academia.

Project name: Call for proposals to protect and promote the rights of the child (CERV-2021-CHILD)

Brief Description:  The aim of the project call is to contribute to responding to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, by promoting ways to mainstream and embed children’s rights in the responses to this and any other emergency situations. The pandemic has caused widespread economic and social dislocation to various sections of society. The result has been various sections of society getting affected. Children are no exception to this around the world. Children belonging to the poorest sections of the society have suffered from various problems such as being pushed into menial child labour.

In order to contribute to responding to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic the project the following steps will be undertaken by the project:

(1) Including children in the decision making process about responses to the pandemic measures.

(2) Identifying, in cooperation with children, what activities and services have been mostly affected and

(3) Involving children in creating mechanisms to support their needs in order to overcome the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Project name: Call for proposals for action grants to support transnational projects to enhance the rights of persons suspected or accused of crime and the rights of victims of crime (JUST-2021-JACC)

Brief Description:  The aim of the project call is to facilitate effective and non-discriminatory access to justice for all, and effective redress, including by electronic means (e-justice), by promoting efficient civil, and criminal procedures, by promoting and supporting the rights of all victims of crime as well as the procedural rights of suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings.

The call that will be operational throughout 2021 and 2022 will:

• to contribute to the effective and coherent application of EU criminal law in the area of the rights of persons suspected or accused of crime (procedural rights priority);

• to contribute to the effective and coherent application of EU criminal law in the area of the rights of persons suspected or accused of crime (procedural rights priority); (b) to contribute to the effective and coherent application of EU law in the area of the rights of victims of crime in line with the EU Strategy on victims’ rights (2020-2025) (victims’ rights priority).

Source for projects

https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-search;callCode=null;freeTextSearchKeyword=;matchWholeText=true;typeCodes=1,2;statusCodes=31094501,31094502,31094503;programmePeriod=null;programCcm2Id=null;programDivisionCode=null;focusAreaCode=null;destination=null;mission=null;geographicalZonesCode=null;programmeDivisionProspect=null;startDateLte=null;startDateGte=null;crossCuttingPriorityCode=null;cpvCode=null;performanceOfDelivery=null;sortQuery=sortStatus;orderBy=asc;onlyTenders=false;topicListKey=topicSearchTablePageState

By – Aniruddh Rajendran

Applicants may also consider the following points which may help them ensure that the project proposal is written and presented in a concise manner:

• In order to ensure that the donors have an understanding of the cost estimate of the project, there may be a brief tabular summary that may be a part of the electronic document that is presented to donors in the EU Financial institutions.

• A more detailed cost estimate may be presented to the donors on an excel document.

• The more detailed excel document may contain detailed cost estimate that may include the personnel and project costs as well as a description of spending needs of the organization seeking funding.

• Applicants must always remember that nothing is sold in the market for free. Therefore, cost estimate must include the smallest of items. This can include the estimation of cost if items such as pencil, pen refill (if required) etc.

• During the course of the project if an office is rented for the purpose of the project it is normally counted as project cost. This must be written in an excel document and presented to the financial institutions in the EU.
• When writing to get funds a helpful guide could help. The following guide has been provided below to help applicants:

Grant writing/Action

• Sponsor-centered

-Service attitude

• Future oriented

– Work you wish to do                         –

• Persuasive

– “Sell” the reader

• Personal

– Convey excitement

• Team-oriented

– Feedback needed

• Brevity rewarded

– Strict Language Constraints

• Accessible Language

– Broad Audience

For Information on how to write project proposals to EU financial institution refer to:

1. https://ied.eu/blog/6-steps-to-a-successful-eu-proposal/.
2. https://www.med.uio.no/klinmed/forskning/sentre/seraf/aktuelt/aktuelle-saker/2017/presentasjoner-nfr2017/chilidis.pdf.
3. http://rr-co.eu/horizon2020/writing-competitive-project-proposals/.
4. http://www.ceriss.eu/files/proposal-writing_final_kiev_GWcom.pdf.
5. https://www.umc.edu.dz/images/h2020%20BOOK.pdf.

By – Aniruddh Rajendran

Some points about writing beyond research and basic writing structure:

Applicants may take the following points into consideration during the writing process of an EU Project Proposal.

Please remember that concise and transparent writing is not as easy as applicants may think of it to be. However, if concise and transparent writing has a way of doing it then it could be used as a template to develop project ideas in line with the requirements of various EU Financial institution.

In order to ensure that applicants are able to write concise project proposals for EU financial they may refer to the SMART method of writing and presenting objectives. SMART refers to:

S – Specific – Define a clear way to achieve specific objectives.

M – Measureable – How and when will the objective be achieved.

A – Achievable – Is there a plan / methodology to achieve the goals.

R – Realistic – Is it realistic to achieve the goals that are set to be achieved

T – Timely – Can the goal be achieved within a reasonable amount of time.

Other than concise writing a significant challenge for applicants is use language that will convince donors that the project will have the intended impact that it should on the ground. Most donors in EU financial institutions will focus on the impact that projects will have on individual communities. However, most applicants may have some challenges in understanding and thus presenting to the donors the impact that the project may have on communities. Impact can be understood in three different ways.

Impact on research

– excellence, mobility and training of researchers.

Impact on economy                                                                             

– European competitiveness, creation of jobs.

Societal impact

– Public policy and society.

When writing and explaining impact there is also a need to take another important point into consideration the link between impact and timing. Impact also takes into consideration the potential changes that takes place as a result of the project. The changes can be written and explained to donors in EU financial institutions from the following perspectives:

• Short term changes in – knowledge, skills, aspirations, attitudes, awareness
• Medium term changes in – behaviour, practices, procedures, values, decision making
• Long term changes in – policies, legislation, economy, society, technology, environment.

By – Aniruddh Rajendran

While writing any project proposal the applicant for the project must take two components of the written project proposal into account. They are (1) Research (2) Writing. Writing for Project Proposals to the EU is no different.

1. Research:

Ultimately, writing is a summary of information or the process of coming up with new content/ideas based on existing primary / secondary sources. Therefore, even before beginning the process of writing any project proposal an applicant must do in-depth research on various facets of the project, even if the information is in the eyes of the applicant insignificant for the donor or the needs of the project beneficiary. Applicants should remember that the donors in the EU financial institutions will not just provide money without knowing how the money provided by them will be utilized by the applicants. Therefore, they must take time to conduct thorough research on all aspects connected to their proposed project. Details such as the broad idea and scope of the proposed project, precise location of the project (if there will be a special subsidiary office to monitor the project please mention it to the donor), how the project will benefit the community, how much money is needed, what the money will be used for, monitoring use of funds are all information that a donor will look for. In the absence of such information, donors based out of EU intuitions may reject funding for the project altogether.

Also, applicants must note that the European Union doesn’t have one single financial institution to fund projects. Therefore, please visit the website of multiple EU financial institutions and try to find out whether your project ideas suits the needs of the respective financial institution in the EU. It is also advisable to visit the financial institution’s website so that the research and writing are tailored to the needs of the financial institution. For example, FET in the EU is involved in funding emerging technologies related projects. Sometimes such institutions may also have formed. In that case, applicants must fill up all the details sought for in the form and send them to the respective institutions.

2. Writing:

When writing a project proposal applicants must ensure that all the information must be in an orderly fashion. Please ensure that there are proper titles under which points are explained. The applicants must ensure that the researched information must be incorporated during the writing process in a suitable fashion. Applicants must be able to sell their project idea within the opening paragraph of the written proposal to ensure that donors know the gist of the idea. The donors must know the source of information for them to trust that the funds will be used for the intended purpose and that the project is beneficial for the intended community. In addition, the applicant must remember that the donors will seek the details of the organizational structure and the organization so that they have an understanding of the entity that is receiving the money. This must be incorporated in the written proposal alongside other research material such as the broad idea and scope of the proposed project, the precise location of the project, and other details. Applicants must be specific when writing the proposal. Please avoid providing details that are irrelevant to the project and seeking funding for it. E.g. To help laborers build a water tank I will create a fund to pay the laborers. The issue with this sentence is that those laborers may not be a part of the organization.

Finally, applicants must remember that researched and written material is supposed to be presented to the donors to seek funding for the project from donors. Applicants must ensure that the following is not done. Writing:

– Vague and unfocused sentences in which donors have clarity on what the project is about

– Dense academic prose in which everything important is a conclusion. The conclusion should only be a summary of findings from the research and written material.

– Long sentences, small fonts, and crowded margins. Doing this means that it becomes an eyesore for the donors to focus on the written material.

Clarity, transparency, and a concise description of projects are what EU financial institutions expect from applicants. Please note that in the absence of these factors projects may be rejected by EU financial bodies.

For Information on how to write project proposals to EU financial institutions refer to:

1. https://ied.eu/blog/6-steps-to-a-successful-eu-proposal/.
2. https://www.med.uio.no/klinmed/forskning/sentre/seraf/aktuelt/aktuelle-saker/2017/presentasjoner-nfr2017/chilidis.pdf.
3. http://rr-co.eu/horizon2020/writing-competitive-project-proposals/.
4. http://www.ceriss.eu/files/proposal-writing_final_kiev_GWcom.pdf.
5. https://www.umc.edu.dz/images/h2020%20BOOK.pdf.

Written By Aniruddh Rajendran

Turkish Goverment continues to grab opponents abroad

Orhan Inandi, a Turkish-born Kyrgyz citizen who used to head a network of Gulen-linked schools in Kyrgyzstan, went missing on June 1.

The disappearance of a Turkish teacher in Kyrgyzstan, on June 1, was a reminder that the long arm of Turkey’s secret services continues to reach and abduct scores of the country’s citizens abroad.

The kidnappings and forced renditions over the last five years have mostly targeted suspected supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the Muslim preacher whom Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames for a failed coup against him in 2016.

Turkey has boasted that its secret service masterminded some of the cloak and dagger operations, with the justice minister saying 107 “traitors” had been captured abroad by 2019.

A report earlier this year by Freedom House maintained Erdogan has pursued his “perceived enemies in at least 31 different countries.”[1]

Orhan Inandi, a Turkish-born Kyrgyz citizen who used to head a network of Gulen-linked schools in Kyrgyzstan, went missing on June 1. His car was found near his home with the door open, tyres flat and with the teacher’s phone and jacket still inside.

While around a thousand members of Kyrgyz security forces searched for him, his wife claimed he was being held inside the Turkish consulate in Bishkek. However, even as hundreds of protestors gathered in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, their country’s president  Sadyr Japarov was visiting Erdogan in Ankara  on Wednesday and agreeing that the Gulen movement “poses a national security threat to both countries”.

Erdogan Says Turkish Agents Abducted Educational Leader In Kyrgyzstan For Alleged Coup Ties

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkish intelligence agents abducted a Turkish-Kyrgyz educator whose disappearance from Bishkek last month triggered protests and concern about the man’s safety.

Orhan Inandi, the head of Sapat educational network in Kyrgyzstan, disappeared in the Kyrgyz capital late on May 31 under mysterious circumstances.

His car was found in downtown Bishkek early the next day with the doors wide open and valuable items still inside. His wife suggested he was being held at the Turkish Embassy.

The Turkish government accuses Inandi of links to the Gulen movement, which it considers a terrorist organization responsible for a failed 2016 coup attempt.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan said the country’s MIT intelligence agency had captured Inandi and brought him to Turkey.

“As a result of genuine and patient work, MIT has brought a top Central Asian leader of FETO, Orhan Inandi, to our country to face justice,” Erdogan said, referring to the Gulen movement.
He added that to date more than 100 people with alleged links to the Gulen movement had been abducted from countries around the world and brought to Turkey.[2]

Situation with abduction of Orhan Inandi disgraceful for special service of Kyrgyzstan, MPs say

AKIPRESS.COM – “It is disgrace for our special services that allowed other special service to do what they want in our country,” MP Dastan Bekeshev said in comments about kidnapping of Sapat education network President Orhan Inandi, national of Kyrgyzstan, by Turkish national intelligence.

“This demonstrates the level of our special service. We don’t have counter-intelligence,” he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should react to the situation, the lawmaker stated.

“Probably, it will be quiet in Kyrgyzstan despite such violations, but the international community will see where and who we are and who directs us. Nobody will conduct any special operation and bring him back. I am convinced our country won’t insist on his return,” MP Bekeshev suggested.

Vice Speaker Aida Kasymalieva said this is a blatant and sad story for Kyrgyzstan and relgations with Turkey.

“This is the issue of sovereignty of the country, dignity of the country. This concerns every citizen. Not all can understand how such thing could happen and slam the authorities. Of course, people think they were cheated as Orhan Inandi was abducted and brought to Turkey,” the Vice Speaker said.

“As parliamentarians we will demand investigation, involvement of international experts and organizations. The Foreign Ministry should not keep silent. Orhan Inandi is national of Kyrgyzstan. The state should bear responsibility for each citizen of Kyrgyzstan,” Vice Speaker Kasymalieva stressed.[3]

[1] https://thearabweekly.com/erdogans-long-arm-continues-grab-opponents-abroad

[2] https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-turkey-erdogan-turkey-gulen-inandi/31342458.html

[3] https://akipress.com/news:660211:Situation_with_abduction_of_Orhan_Inandi_disgraceful_for_special_service_of_Kyrgyzstan,_MPs_say/

The Constitutional Court (AYM) unanimously gave a verdict that HDP member Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu’s rights were violated.

Gergerlioğlu was stripped of his parliamentary seat in March following his two-and-a-half-year sentence over social media posts.

The court ruled that Gergerlioğlu’s “freedom of expression” and “right to engage in political activity” were violated. The court also decided that 30 thousand Turkish Lira is to be paid to Gergerlioğlu as compensation.

Announcing the grand decision, his son Salih Gergerlioğlu said, “The Constitutional Court has given a decision of ‘violation of rights’ against my father. He is being released, my father is being released”.

Anayasa Mahkemesi, babam hakkında ‘hak ihlali’ kararı verdi. Tahliye oluyor babam tahliye oluyorrr

— Salih Gergerlioğlu (@salihro) July 1, 2021

A notice will be sent to the Criminal Court of Kocaeli where Gergerlioğlu’s initial sentence was ruled. Gergerlioğlu, who has been in prison for 106 days, is expected to be released following the receipt of the notice. As with Enis Berberoğlu’s case, the way for his return to the parliament has been cleared.

Adalet Nöbeti’nin 106. günü. Babam, 90 gündür hukuksuzca hapsediliyor. AYM kararına son bir gün. Hukuksuzluğu sonlandırın. @AYMBASKANLIGI

— Salih Gergerlioğlu (@salihro) June 30, 2021

Gergerlioglu became a target for the Turkish government after repeatedly speaking out against human rights violations and torture claims in the country and strip searches of female inmates in prisons.

Human rights defender Gergerlioğlu was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” for a post he made on social media, and this sentence was upheld by the 16th Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals. Following the decision read in the General Assembly of the Assembly, HDP deputy Gergerlioğlu was relieved of his parliamentary seat.

While Gergerlioğlu is expected to be released from prison after the decision of the Constitutional Court, the ruling will be sent to the Parliament to begin the process of restoring his parliamentary seat.

Humans need to treat each other with mercy and ensure that peace is encouraged in societies to solve the problems of racism and ethnicity. If people come up with common values so that each member knows what to expect of each other or have some shared principles by which to resolve differences without resolving to violence, this world would be a better place, racism and ethnicity wouldn’t exist among human beings. Societies should have values that binds them together, encourage the spirit of friendship and brother hood among people to make this world free from racism and ethnicity.

Tolerance and dialogue can also help in solving the problems that arise due to racism and ethnicity. Societies need to have peaceful exchange of ideas for them to come up with positive solutions that can resolve differences without violence. Tolerance safeguards against persecutions and evils that are necessarily associated with ethnicity and racism. Hate and curse should be discouraged and peace and harmony among people in societies be encouraged.

Power hungry people should not be made leaders as they sometimes make decisions that negatively impact others in societies thereby encouraging racism and ethnicity. Rather people who are relatively grounded, reasonably self-aware and do not take things or themselves too seriously or don’t change in a bad way are the ones with the best chance of leading successfully. Power hungry people get carried away with their desires and do not consider other people’s views. They do not like to be criticized and are of the perception that they are always right. This cause disunion among people and encourages greediness. Greedy people destroy societies.
Recognizing human dignity in people plays a very big role in curbing racism and ethnicity. This makes people to respect and honor each other’s values. Respect for human rights can help people to understand each other in societies. Human rights bring people together because they are inherent to human beings of all nationalities, sex, ethnic groups, and races. These human rights are interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

People should also be sensitized on racism and ethnicity and encourage victims to be reporting issues of racism to authorities or to speak up. If people in societies are aware of how to deal with racism, they stand a better chance in addressing the issues when encountered.

A bad expected behavior cannot be changed or fixed by hating or announcing it an enemy. Hate bears hate. Moving from on this path the damages of racism and ethnocentrism ca be more and more by having a distance and calling “the others”. Because the racist and ethnocentrist also call “the others”. Instead of having a distance, need to build bridges to avoid the disunity and prevent the problems which can be caused among the relations.

When people live in harmony, recognize the contributions that each person make to societies, appreciate each other’s contributions towards issues that affect societies and recognize that we are all on this planet together and that we stand to gain more when we work together rather than against each other. Racism and ethnicity can be avoided if love for humanity is practiced. Societies would be united regardless of race end ethnic groups and wars and conflicts would be avoided. We should all try to follow the golden rule that encourage us to do onto others as we would want them to do onto us as the saying goes “if you live in glass house, do not throw stones at others”.

by Prof Dr. Ibrahim Kurt

published at
Societies Need New Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity: Societies in Harmony (Religious Context)
June 2021 · International Journal Ihya Ulum al-Din 23(1):79-88
DOI: · 10.21580/ihya.23.1.7765
License· CC BY-SA 4.0
to have the full article please click the link