Andalus Institute
For Tolerance and Anti-violence Studies

The vision

 The absence of the culture of tolerance in our Egyptian and Arab societies has evidently contributed to creating the socially, economically, and politically retarded situation that we are living in the present day, we consider terrorism, political and social paralysis, rejection of the other, human rights violations, and proliferation of violence to be some of the phenomena floating on surface due to the absence of tolerance, the nonexistence of a rational and mature public understanding, whereas deformed cultures took over, cultures that encompass a feeling of defeat and an urging impulse to impose oneself, in addition to absolute unquestionable convictions, leading to a bizarre mixture of science, superstition and history, not relying on objective facts or knowledge, but rather on the cultures of individuals and primary groups.

The degradation of dialogue in our society, being replaced by violence and yelling as a means of self gratification, is perhaps a conspicuous manifestation of such absence, for it has become impossible to get involved in a conducive dialogue, any attempt would eventually transform the other – whoever he/she was – into an enemy, an enemy that should be defamed, or even eliminated, in a heavy atmosphere fragrant with conspiracy.

Discourses of apostatizing and accusing of treason have risen in the Arab societies, that which may be ascribed to the nonexistence of democracy in both the public and the official agenda, supplanted by an emerging tendency to reject those different in religion, race, or political stance.

Hence, we found no escape from confronting such a malignant environment, we found no future possible without reform, of which the first step is achieving democracy, which is not achievable devoid of tolerance, implementation of the international documents on human rights, and an ardent antagonizing of all forms of corporeal or verbal violence.

How??

Through the dissemination of human rights culture, observing the cases of intolerance, within programs depending on precise data, to achieve two main objectives, the first is academic, through the analysis of intolerance manifestations in research papers, studies, and discussion circles, and the second is field work, promoting awareness through seminars, workshops, conferences, and media and legal campaigns.

Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-violence Studies

A dependant research institution setting out from the values of tolerance and equal citizenship, and aspiring to contribute to human resources development in Egyptian and Arab societies, the center is committed to the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance ( Proclaimed and signed by the Member States of "UNESCO" on 16 November 1995 ), besides all international documents, covenants, conventions, and declarations relevant to human rights.

 - The center does not get involved in any activities which might affect its integrity

Target Issues

- Disseminating the culture of tolerance.

- Confronting cultural, racial, sex based, political, and religious intolerance.

- Promoting democracy, the one and only fertile soil for tolerance to flourish.

- Confronting discrimination against handicapped people.

Target Strata

Young people from 15 to 35 years old.

Center Units

- Observing and Research Unit

- Training Unit

- Public and International Relations Unit

- Technical Support and Documentation Unit

Andalus Institute
For Tolerance and Anti-violence Studies

Address: 24 Hussien Hegazy St. off Al Kasr Al Eini St. - Cairo , Egypt .
Tel.& Fax: (202) 279 438 97  -  279 432 98
E-mail: andalusitas@yahoo.com