The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations Office will be co-hosting an event to commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

The commemoration will be organized in the framework of the implementing a UN resolution calling for strengthened international efforts to foster a global dialogue on promoting the culture of tolerance and peace, based on respect for human rights and for the diversity of religions and beliefs.
The event, to be held in Geneva on 17 March, will aim to raise awareness on intolerance, hate speech and discriminations targeting Muslim communities and encourage States to take the necessary steps to combat the phenomenon of Islamophobia.
 
It will also call on UN Member States to resolutely tackle Islamophobia as a specific form of racism and adopt plans of action to prevent and combat it.
 
The OIC Secretary General and the Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva will provide opening remarks.
 
The event will listen to the presentations by Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights; Mr. Ahmed Shaheed, former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief; Ambassador Ismail Hakki Musa, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims; Mr. Alexandre Guessel, Special Representative of the Council of Europe’s Secretary General on antisemitic, anti-Muslim and other forms of religious intolerance and hate crimes; and Mr. Taha Ayhan, President of the Islamic Cooperation Youth.