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

+1-929-274-6217

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
        • Governance and Leadership
          • Governance and Leadership
          • High Representative
          • High Representative's Statements
          • Previous Leadership
          • Group of Friends
  • 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 Award
          • 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
          • #OneHumanity Campaign
  • Resources
    • All Resources and Publications
    • UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites
    • Guiding Documents
    • Implementation Plans
    • Group of Friends Meeting Reports
    • Annual Activity Reports
    • Financial Reports and Audited Financial Statements
    • Publications
  • Global Forums
    • 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
          • Stories of #OneHumanity
  • Contact

Remarks by the UNAOC High Representative at the High-level Meeting on ‘What Does Peace & Stability Mean in the 21st Century’

"We firmly believe that peace should be embraced as a way of life. A continued process, not a one time, feel good action. A culture of peace should be nurtured through strengthening mutual respect and protecting the dignity of all members of the society regardless of their race, religion, belief or gender."

September 20, 2021 Filed Under: Featured, High Representative's Statements, High Representative's Updates

Remarks by
The High-Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
Mr. Miguel Moratinos
“What Does Peace and Stability Mean in the 21st Century”

Nizami Ganjavi International Center
New York – 20 September 2021

Excellencies,
Dear Friends and colleagues,
Good morning.

It gives me great pleasure to be here in person with friends and colleagues and for that I thank the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and its able Secretary-General Mr. Rovshan Muradov for bringing us together this year

The question posed to all of us in this forum is very timely: What Does Peace & Stability Mean in the 21st Century?

I am inclined to zero on that question so that it reads: What Does Peace & Stability Mean in the post- COVID 19 pandemic era?

To answer either question, allow me to give, in a nutshell, my view of the current complex global landscape.

As we speak, the United Nations Headquarters here in New York is getting ready for the High Level Week or the High-level General Debate. The good news is that the format this year is partially in person or let’s say an advanced format of a hybrid meeting compared to last year.

Therefore, there is hope and hope brings new beginnings.

We are at a turning point and we cannot go about our lives as business as usual. Because we are not out of the woods. Not just yet.

The pandemic, as we heard from the previous distinguished speakers, has exposed our failures as a global community. A colossal failure in the global response to the pandemic which reflected – by default – the failure of the multilateral system. We failed the people. The human being who is the epicenter of this crisis.

This failure was clearly demonstrated over and over again in the past 20 months. First in the short and medium terms since the outbreak of COVID19 and then in the global vaccination program to end the pandemic and defeat it.

This does not mean abandoning multilateralism. We need multilateralism that works. An effective, well-managed, results-oriented multilateralism that puts people and their interests, front and center.

A reformed multilateral system that would be able to address the fissures and gaps that the pandemic exposed .

In many occasions, global responses to the pandemic were self-serving leaving the vulnerable and poor behind risking the gains made in the SDGs and the concept of “leaving no one behind”.

A virus of toxic hate spread like wildfire vilifying vulnerable communities and demonizing minorities

Discrimination based on religion, belief or identity sowed divisions fragmenting our already fragile societies.

There is a collapse of cultural diversity which is equally important, in my view, to the collapse of biodiversity.

Only events of such global consequence could and should generate the solidarity, resolve and vision necessary to create those governing structures.

The United Nations rose from the ashes of the Second World War with the purpose of saving successive generations from the scourge of war. A pandemic and a world-wide depression had preceded this devastating war.

Only events of such global consequence could and should generate the solidarity, resolve and vision necessary to create those governing structures.

The ugly truth is that there is no such thing as “we are in this together”. Theoretically, or virtually, maybe we are. But in real life this is a myth.

The spirit of solidarity, unity and collective action that was a driving force behind the establishment of the United Nations is absent today.

Excellencies,
Dear friends and colleagues,

With crises there is a door or a window of opportunity opens up. Optimists, like myself, always see it.

We should seize the opportunity and reset the button to emerge better demonstrating humility, humility and solidarity.

Just few days ago, on Friday 17 September we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the International Day of Peace.

However, the perils I mentioned earlier challenges our efforts for sustainable peace and stability.

We need to recommit to work together in solidarity, unity and compassion as one humanity.

Peace is at the heart of the work we do at the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

We firmly believe that peace should be embraced as a way of life. A continued process, not a one time, feel good action.

A culture of peace should be nurtured through strengthening mutual respect and protecting the dignity of all members of the society regardless of their race, religion, belief or gender.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations strengthens a culture of peace through our cross-sectoral initiatives in the areas of Education, youth, women, religious leaders, faith-based organizations, media and migration.

As COVID-19 exposed the fissures and shortcomings in our societies, it is never too late to reverse course. Fulfilling goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development “building peaceful, just and inclusive societies,” is more imperative now than ever before. Allow me to reiterate that words like sustainable peace, dialogue, tolerance, diversity and respect mean little if not supported by concrete broad range of actions under an international umbrella of sincere cooperation from state and non-state actors.

In this context, the Secretary-General of the United Nations launched last week Our Common Agenda. An agenda of action, designed to strengthen and accelerate multilateral cooperation – particularly around the 2030 Agenda – and make a tangible difference to people’s lives.

And it is an agenda driven by solidarity – the principle of working together.

He proposed a summit for the future should include a New Agenda for Peace, that takes a more comprehensive, holistic view of global security

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations stands ready to support the Secretary-General’s efforts.

Concluding, I have been inspired by the great poet Nizami Gangavi. I wish to quote him “In the book of life, every page has two sides: we human beings fill the upper side with our plans, hopes and wishes . But providence writes on the other side and what it ordains is seldom our goal”

I hope the spirit of solidarity, unity, compassion and humility would guide our actions in every chapter in the book of life.

I thank you.

Share this

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)

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

  • UNAOC Organized an Intergenerational Dialogue on the Role of Youth in Preventing Violent Extremism through Sport in Rabat, Morocco Featuring Young Leaders from the Middle East and North Africa June 23, 2022
  • UNAOC News Flash volume 28 June 17, 2022
  • UNAOC Holds Symposium of Young Peacebuilders in Rabat, Morocco June 16, 2022
  • Presentation by the High Representative at the Joint UNAOC-EU ‘Briefing on Efforts on Combating Antisemitism’ June 15, 2022
  • Opening Remarks by the High Representative at the Joint UNAOC-EU ‘Briefing on Efforts on Combating Antisemitism’ June 15, 2022
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 Alliances of Civilizations, browse through the recent editions of our our monthly newsletter.


Programming Newsletter

To view the latest edition of “UNAOC In Focus”, our programming-focused newsletter, click here to browse through our archives.


  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

UNAOC on Twitter

  • RT @UN_OCT: .@UN_OCT Civil Society Roundtable on #Youth Engagement, Empowerment & Protection in #CounterTerrorism & #PCVE effor… https://t.co/eFm1YuTfXF
  • RT @nsaad777: Food 4 Thought: Celebrating cultural diversity & inclusiveness thru cooking together & tasting food from around th… https://t.co/rIkhDhxuET
  • 🚨 Last day alert: Submit your short video on #diversity #migration #inclusion to @Pluralplus for a chance to grab:… https://t.co/iuE7ihhRkS

Copyright © 2021 UNITED NATIONS ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS | 730 THIRD AVENUE, 20TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10017 | PRIVACY | TERMS | Return to top

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.