The General Secretariat launched on 18 June the Cultural Salon of the League of Arab States on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the League. Since its establishment in 1945, the League of Arab States has placed Arab culture among its highest priorities and affirmed its belief in culture as a vital instrument for fostering rapprochement and mutual understanding among peoples.
The Cultural Salon will be held periodically at the League's headquarters, providing a platform to spotlight issues of concern to the Arab world in light of evolving global dynamics. The inaugural session of the Cultural Salon, titled "The Role of Cinema in Bringing Peoples Together," coincides with the observance of the International Day for Combating Hate Speech, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution A/RES/75/309 on 22 July 2021.
The first session of the Salon explores the role of cinema as a powerful medium for fostering understanding, mutual respect, and cross-cultural dialogue between the Arab world and the international community. It examines cinema's capacity to engage with universal human themes, challenge harmful stereotypes, promote tolerance and openness, and serve as a counterforce to hate speech. The Salon also serves as a forum for dialogue among filmmakers, critics, intellectuals, and academics from across the Arab region.
The Salon draws inspiration from a pioneering idea introduced by Dr. Taha Hussein, the Dean of Arabic Literature, who was the first to establish a university-based cultural salon in the mid-20th century. His salon brought together prominent Arab thinkers and intellectuals to engage in meaningful discussions on thought, identity, and education.
