On July 28 and 29, the U.S. Department of State hosted an international meeting regarding the threat of Daesh to religious and ethnic minorities. Ambassador at Large for the Alliance of Civilizations and Interreligious Dialogue, Belén Alfaro attended the meeting on behalf of Spain.
More than 25 countries from the EU and other UN bodies participated in the meeting, a continuation of the Conference on Victims of Ethnic and Religious Violence in the Middle East, held in Paris last September.
In her remarks, Alfaro reaffirmed Spain’s deep concern for the danger that faces minorities, especially women and children, as well as the destruction of religious and cultural symbols in the Middle East.
Alfaro also expressed solidarity with victims, and maintained Spain’s firm determination against terrorism. Alfaro took the opportunity to also speak on the next edition of the conference which will take place in Spain. The conference will focus on the three fields determined in Paris: Humanitarian, Political, and Legal. There will be a special focus on the return of refugees and displaced peoples, fighting impunity, protection of cultural legacies, promotion of policies of reconciliation, and the prevention and fight against violent extremism.