• 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
    • UNAOC Action Plan (2019-2023)
    • 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
    • Fez 2022
      • Fez Forum Website
    • 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

High Representative’s Remarks at the Sixth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of Ancient Civilizations

December 4, 2022 Filed Under: Featured, High Representative's Statements

Remarks by Under-Secretary-General and High Representative
for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Moratinos,
at the Sixth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of Ancient Civilizations

Baghdad, Iraq – 4 December 2022

Your Excellency,
Mr. Fouad Hussein, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq
And Chairman of the Forum,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

I am truly honored to be here today in your remarkable country.

I warmly thank the Government of the Republic of Iraq for the hospitality and the warm welcome.

I also wish to convey the support of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres who has delegated me to represent him in this meeting. Mr. Guterres firmly believes in intercultural and interreligious dialogue as a viable tool for peace.

This is my first visit to Iraq. A visit that is long overdue. But certainly, worth the long wait.

I could not think of a more perfect setting for a forum on ancient civilizations than Iraq, a cradle of centuries- old civilization.

The wealth of diverse religions, cultures and ethnicities enriches the colorful mosaic of the Iraqi society.

Cultural heritage sites and religious sites in Iraq and elsewhere reflects the people’s identity and cements their sense of belonging.

The people of Iraq have always stood out as the embodiment of resilience.

They are a living experience of hope amid the darkest moments in Iraq’s history.

Hope, resilience and solidarity of the Iraqis were the driving force that helped them defeat Da’esh and liberate their country of their menace.

But to ultimately defeat terrorism, our global efforts should also be complemented by addressing the root causes of violent extremism conducive to terrorism.

This is where the role of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations come into play.

As the political initiative of the UN Secretary General for conflict prevention and conflict resolution through advancing intercultural and interreligious dialogue and promoting diversity and mutual respect.

With its emphasis on dialogue and cultural cooperation, I am pleased that your forum complements the work that the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations began more than 17 years ago and succeeded in creating a global platform for intercultural and interreligious dialogue.

Just a week ago, we have successfully organized our 9th Global forum in the historical city of Fez, Morocco. More than 1100 participants came to the forum including 98 member states, civil society organizations, religious leaders and youth.

I seize this opportunity to thank H.E. the Minister of Culture of Iraq for his valuable participation.

Distinguished guests,

It is important to remember the importance of protecting cultural and religious heritage especially against the backdrop of today’s global context where people whose identities are defined by religion, culture or ethnicity, continue to be besieged by hatred and fall victim to discrimination and marginalization.

Religious sites and places of worship are universal symbols of our humanity.

The destruction of these sites diminishes us all as a society.

That’s why the Secretary General of the United Nations tasked my office to develop the United Nations Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites in the aftermath of the Christchurch attacks in 2019.

The Plan is a global call to rally around our most basic tenets of humanity and solidarity and to reaffirm the sanctity of all religious sites and the safety of all worshippers who visit houses of worship in a spirit of compassion and respect. The Plan is elaborated in consonance with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, noting that this right includes the right of individuals and communities to manifest their religions and beliefs in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

I hope that reference to this plan would be included in your declaration.

Distinguished guests,

In today’s complex and multifaceted challenges, dialogue is a sine-qua-non for peace.

History has shown that dialogue is not a simple process, but that if we fail to teach and cultivate it, the situation can give way to a monologue or to mutism, which is conducive to conflict and violent extremism. HH Pope Francis describes it as parallel monologues.

The revival of cultural and civilizational dialogue is a pre-requisite for durable peace.

Once again, I am very pleased to be part of this initiative and I look forward to consolidating our collective efforts towards that end.

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 a link 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

  • View Recent Press Statements from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations January 30, 2023
  • Press Statement on the terrorist bomb attack on a mosque in Pakistan January 30, 2023
  • Press Statement on the terrorist attack outside a synagogue, East Jerusalem January 27, 2023
  • Media Advisory: The International Day of Human Fraternity January 26, 2023
  • Press Statement on the Church Stabbing in Southern Spain January 25, 2023
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.


UNAOC on Twitter

  • Tune in for a virtual event commemorating #HumanFraternityDay organized by #UNAOC, the Permanent Mission of Egypt… https://t.co/426xzpwjc7
  • 🎉 Happy International Day of Human Fraternity! 🗓 On Monday, 6 February, 3pm EST, join us in promoting the message… https://t.co/E0NvpPRUmH
  • RT @ZayedAward: Under the patronage of UAE President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nah… https://t.co/XudCPeYW8J
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

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