COMMENT | Human dignity: Towards building inclusive societies

COMMENT | It gives me great pleasure to be at the Regional Southeast Asia Human Dignity Conference 2024 with the theme: “Dignity for Everyone Everywhere”.

I would like to begin by commending the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) for hosting this important conference as well as the conference’s partners at the International Center for Law and Religion Studies of Brigham Young University.

Mention must also be made of the Religious Freedom Institute in Washington DC and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies - yet more friends of Malaysia from around the world who have helped to make today’s conference possible.

The fact that I have acknowledged institutions from (practically) all four corners of the globe highlights just how collaborative and international this event is. This conference results from the combined efforts of individuals and teams representing a wide range of faiths and nationalities.