• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

+1-212-963-7209

contactaoc@unops.org

How to Get Involved

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

Many cultures. One humanity.

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Who We Are
        • About Us
          • About the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
          • Trust Fund and Donors
          • UNAOC Secretariat
          • Vacancy Announcements and Opportunities
        • History
          • History
          • Timeline
          • High Level Group
        • Institution and Leadership
          • Institution and Leadership
          • High Representative
          • High Representative's Statements
          • Previous Leadership
          • Group of Friends
          • High-level Advisory Council for the High Representative
  • What We Do
        • What We Do
          • Programming Overview: Platform for intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation
          • UNAOC News Flash: Read the Latest Updates
        • What We Do
          • United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Annual Activity Reports
          • UNAOC Upcoming Events Calendar
        • Projects and Initiatives
          • An overview of UNAOC's ongoing projects and initiatives
          • How to Get Involved
  • Projects
        • Projects and Initiatives
          • Intercultural Innovation Hub
          • UNAOC Fellowship Program
          • PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival
          • Youth Solidarity Fund
          • Young Peacebuilders
          • Summer Schools
          • Hate Speech International Conference
          • Media and Information Literacy Clearinghouse
          • PeaceApp
          • Media & Information Literacy for Teachers
          • Intercultural Leaders
        • Projects and Initiatives
          • EDIN – “Empowering Dialogue and Interfaith Networks”
          • 'Sport for One Humanity' Initiative
          • Promoting the Role of Women as Peacemakers
          • News Generation Against Hate: Empowering local youth to create alternative narratives and champion diversity in the media
          • #YouthWagingPeace: A Whole Community Approach to Prevention of Violent Extremism through Education
          • Digital Games for Peace: Intercultural dialogue and socio-emotional competencies for peacebuilding
        • Campaigns
          • UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites
          • Call to Action #forSafeWorship
  • Resources
        • United Nations Action Plans Developed by UNAOC
          • United Nations Action Plan to Enhance Monitoring and Response to Antisemitism
          • United Nations Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites
        • Resources and Publications
          • UNAOC Action Plan (2024–2026)
          • Guiding Documents
          • Implementation Plans
          • Publications
          • UNAOC News Flash
        • UNAOC Reports
          • Group of Friends Meeting Reports
          • Annual Activity Reports
          • Financial Reports and Audited Financial Statements
  • Global Forums
    • Cascais 2024
      • Cascais Forum Website
    • Fez 2022
      • Fez Forum Website
      • Fez Forum Report
    • 8th Global Forum
      • 8th UNAOC Global Forum Website
      • 8th Global Forum Report
    • Baku 2016
      • Baku Forum Website
      • Baku Forum Report
    • Bali 2014
      • Bali Forum
    • Vienna 2013
      • Vienna Forum
      • Vienna Forum Documents
    • Doha 2011
      • Doha Forum
    • Rio 2010
      • Rio Forum
    • Istanbul 2009
      • Istanbul Forum
      • Outcomes & Reports from Istanbul Forum
      • Marketplace of Ideas at the Istanbul Forum
      • Istanbul Forum Documents
    • Madrid 2008
      • Madrid Forum
      • Outcomes & Reports from Madrid Forum
      • Speeches & Statements
  • News
        • News and Updates
          • UNAOC News Flash
          • News, Features and Press Releases
          • In Focus (Programming Newsletter)
          • Newsletter Archives
        • High Representative
          • High Representative's Statements
          • UNAOC Press Statements
          • High Representative's Blog
        • Multimedia
          • UNAOC Video Gallery
          • Join the Global Call to Action #forSafeWorship
  • Contact

Remarks by H.E. Al-Nasser at the World Day for Cultural Diversity Celebration at the Princeton Club of New York

I have the utmost pleasure to be here with you today for a Celebration of Diversity, in observance of the "World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development". First, I want to praise the initiative to hold this Celebration. In fact, today we are closer and more interconnected than ever. Diversity is our unavoidable human condition. And the Institute for Multicultural Communications and Development plays a vital role in promoting social inclusion.

June 12, 2017 Filed Under: H.E. Al-Nasser's Statements

REMARKS OF
H.E. MR. NASSIR ABDULAZIZ AL-NASSER
HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE
UNITED NATIONS ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS
at the World Day for Cultural Diversity
9 June 2017 | The Princeton Club of New Tork

Dear Mr. Ismael Betancourt, Jr., Founder and President of the Institute for Multicultural Communications and development,
Distinguished Panellists and Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the utmost pleasure to be here with you today for a Celebration of Diversity, in observance of the “World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development”.

First, I want to praise the initiative to hold this Celebration. In fact, today we are closer and more interconnected than ever. Diversity is our unavoidable human condition. And the Institute for Multicultural Communications and Development plays a vital role in promoting social inclusion.

Just like the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, the Institute is actively working to bridge social and cultural divides among and between cultural communities. We are here to unite our voices in order to speak even louder for the promotion of diversity. Indeed, the Alliance believes that respecting each other’s beliefs and cultures will create a better world for all of us.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

What does acceptance of diversity have to offer?

How far will promotion of diversity advance the goals or peace and sustainable development?

Diversity first of all recognizes that the human family is made up of a rich array of peoples, cultures, languages, religions, races, ethnicities, beliefs, customs, social standings and wealth.

But underneath it all, we are still one human family, a singular species that has far more in common than some would wish to admit. Our aspirations are common in terms of our need for food and shelter, for the safety, security and love of our families and the basic desire to live in peace with our community. While we should celebrate the diversity and differences that exist within the human family, we must also recognize that politicians often use these differences to pit one group against another, or one society against another, for their own political ends. It is this misuse of diversity, which we must guard against.

Four years ago, together with the Institute for multicultural Communications Cooperation and Development, we went to the Bronx to meet with local communities from various cultures. We expressed our support for their work. We then invited everyone to do one thing for diversity and inclusion.

Did each of us keep our promise? And have we progressed since then?

We made a lot of progress, indeed.

The Alliance facilitated numerous successful forums and events in which NGOs identified their needs and could develop solutions. We signed several Memorandums of Understandings and collaborated actively with many key players. Our projects constitute successful tools in order to promote more understanding and tolerance.

But the world today is still at a critical juncture. It is facing multiple crises, terrible conflicts and rise of hostilities. We cannot ignore the urgency. We need to work more, to reach more people in order to “leave no one behind” as pledged by the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. It is, in fact, the only way to make Diversity seen as an asset rather than a threat.
Our world becomes increasingly dependent on information. The Alliance is aware of the new challenges that we have to face and is working actively to tackle them with innovative projects.

For example, among other projects, the Alliance is working on the Plural+ Project. It is a youth video festival focused on migration, diversity and social inclusion.

Through this project, we are actually giving voice to youth from everywhere in the world. We are listening to their stories. Every story is unique, everyone is unique. When every unique person comes together, our unity becomes our strength. That is the Alliance’s moto: Unity in diversity.

We are well aware that the Institute has organized hundreds of forums, film festivals, conferences and television programs to bridge divides in NYC and elsewhere. You are making a big difference for social inclusion and promotion of diversity through your work at the ground and local level.

A sustainable city is one where people with different cultural and religious backgrounds can live peacefully. A peaceful living is what enables these people to contribute to the well being of the city. For this very reason, cities must also empower migrants and minorities by giving them equal opportunities and support for their social inclusion. This is why diversity matters.

Through the projects of the Institute and those of the Alliance, we are sending a message of awareness to everyone: that their voices matter and that we are here to listen to them. But especially, we believe that by sharing their stories, we promote more understanding and more tolerance. Accepting diversity is therefore a key for a brighter future together:

– A future where poverty is eradicated – that is the 1st Goal of the 2030 UN Agenda for SDGs.
– A future where we have sustaining peace.

Few weeks ago, during the “Diversity Week”, the Alliance signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China with the aim of strengthening cooperation under the initiative of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21st century Maritime Silk Road”.

The ancient network of trade routes connecting the East and the West played a significant role in the development of the participating countries. Historically, religious and cultural diversity came to us along the Great Silk Road. The resurrection of this project is another great step towards our goal of building bridges between civilizations. This new initiative has the aim of promoting diversity of civilizations by strengthening the cooperation between parties. So far, nearly 70 countries have signed agreements with China to participate in this great initiative. At this time where we see nations standing against each other, we are pleased to testify that others are taking concrete actions for building an open and inclusive world and a community of shared future for mankind.

We then have to keep taking concrete actions for the promotion of diversity because the challenge is real. Just as these 70 countries, which renewed this Silk Road Initiative, let us renew our promises made 4 years ago. Let us all do one thing for social inclusion! Let us all celebrate diversity.

Thank you.

Primary Sidebar

If you wish to receive updates about UNAOC's advocacy and programming activities, please sign up using the form below:


UNAOC Press Room

  • News Flash volume 47 – May 2025 May 30, 2025
  • High Representative’s Remarks at the International Likhachev Scientific Conference May 22, 2025
  • Statement by the High Representative on the murder of two members of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. May 22, 2025
  • Statement by the High Representative on his appointment as United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia May 7, 2025
  • News Flash volume 46 – April 2025 April 30, 2025
Get Involved

UNAOC is the premier global platform for intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation. Learn how you can support UNAOC.

Support UNAOC

Footer

UNAOC News Flash

For the latest news from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), browse through the recent editions of our monthly newsletter.


News and Press Releases

To view the latest features about UNAOC click here to browse through our archives.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 UNITED NATIONS ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS | DC1 One United Nations Plaza, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017 | PRIVACY | TERMS | Return to top