United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

PLURAL+ 2017 Panel Discussions
2017-11-10 15:30 - 19:30 (America/Halifax) | Paley Center for Media (25 West 52nd Street), 25 West 52nd Street, New York, NY, United States
On the occasion of PLURAL+ 2017 Awards and Festival at the United Nations Headquarters (November 9th) and the presence of many of PLURAL+ award winning young video makers in New York, PLURAL+ – in partnership with the Paley Center for Media, UNICEF/Voices of Youth and the Ghetto Film School – is organizing three panel discussions at the Paley Center for Media.

3:30-4:45 pm
Teen media makers producing socially inclusive videos
In partnership with Voices of Youth/UNICEF
Voices of Youth offers inspiring, original insight and opinion from across the globe – from young people, for young people.
Panel moderated by Katarzyna Pawelczyk, UNICEF/Voices of Youth
Participants:

Michalina Brzuska, Karolina Stróżyk, Sara Gaździak; makers of “We are Enough” (Poland)
Lucas Ruiz, Anna Casal, Ines and Cristina Labrador; makers of “Peace Bombs” (Spain)
Zain Lokhandwalla, Cali Dutta, Audrey Loverro, Mairéad O’Neill, Imogen Roche, Aeden Zinzell, Oscar Henk, Miles Pietsch, Duncan Occhiogrosso; makers of “When Words Fail” (USA)
Cynthia Polo, Fernando Mendoza, Natalia Luna, Diego Kareem Marín, María José Cepeda, Emilio Caudillo, José Manuel Cuevas, Alejandro Taber; makers of “Xenophobia” (Mexico)
Maria Munoz; maker of “Skins” (Spain)

4:45-4:55 pm
Center for International Disaster Information
Special presentation on CIDI, a unit of the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA). As part of the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) guides and informs the public about the most effective ways to support international disaster relief efforts. They are increasingly engaging embassies, diaspora communities, religious, non-profits, corporations, businesses and governmental organizations across the U.S. and abroad who are seeking information about sending donations back to their countries of heritage during times of disaster and crisis and the most effective ways to support international disaster relief and recovery. USAID CIDI provides resources and conducts public awareness activities designed to empower donors to most effectively help people affected by disasters overseas. Through outreach, partnerships, and our annual student PSAid competition, we support donors and relief agencies as they work together to provide essential relief to disaster victims quickly, effectively, and economically.

4:55-5:05 pm
Special presentation of USA for IOM
USA for IOM is the nonprofit partner of the UN Migration Agency, IOM. The organization raises awareness and funds in support of IOM’s life-saving humanitarian work to help people forced from their homes by conflict or natural disasters, or suffering at the hands of human traffickers. USA for IOM provides a channel for individuals to give hope to the millions of people worldwide who have lost the peace and security of a permanent home.

5:10-6:20 pm
Powerful Partnerships: The Ghetto Film School Way
Ghetto Film School (GFS) founder Joe Hall will share interactive keynote presentations including presentations by young artists and educators from the GFS team. GFS is an award-winning non-profit founded in 2000 to educate, develop and celebrate the next generation of great American storytellers. As more young people are making their voices heard, what is the role that collaborators play in ensuring creative excellence in storytelling? This multi-media interactive panel will examine various approaches and practices used across GFS in the South Bronx, Los Angeles and International Thesis Projects. GFS will present stories of their pioneering partnerships and creative practices in London, Israel and Ukraine.

6:30-7:30 pm
Youth media promoting positive social action
Panel moderated by Jordi Torrent, Project Manager, UNAOC Media and Information Literacy
Participants:

Hariz Ghifari, Ashari Ariya, Hari Songko, Shiela M. Larasati, Achmad Farizi; makers of “Child of All Nations” (Indonesia)
Sarah Randolph; maker of “The True Impact” (USA/Nepal)
Bruno Tarpani; maker of “Flowers to the Sea” (Brazil)
Alihan Smagulov; maker of “Aibek” (Kazakhstan)
Joana Maria Sousa; maker of “See Actions, not Colors” (Portugal)

For additional information please go to pluralplus.unaoc.org or contact plural@unaoc.org.

PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival and Awards Ceremony
2017-11-09 18:30 - 21:00 (America/Halifax) | United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, 10, United States
PLURAL+ 2017 will celebrate 27 award-winning videos of the 320 entries received from all around the world. PLURAL+ supports the outreach of youth-produced videos addressing the topics of migration, diversity, social inclusion and the prevention of xenophobia. Click here for more information.

Join us on November 9th, UN Headquarters Conference Room 4,
for the screening of PLURAL+ 2017 Award-winning Videos!

Download (PDF, 3.1MB)

The Silk Road Concert
2017-10-14 17:30 - 21:00 (America/Halifax) | Human Rights and Alliance of Civilisations Room, United Nations, Geneva, United Nations Office at Geneva , Geneva, 1211, Switzerland
Organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and Fundación Onuart
An encounter between East and West, promoting the dialogue and understanding among cultures through Art, as the best instrument to promote harmony between nations.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and Fundación Onuart are inviting prestigious musicians from the Silk Road countries to perform at “The Silk Road Concert.” While offering a musical journey through the Silk Road – possibly the most mythical route of antiquity – the concert sets out to use music as an instrument to foster intercultural dialogue, understanding, and rapprochement between nations and cultures. The setting of the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room in the Palais des Nations in Geneva will provide the ideal backdrop to promote dialogue and peace around the world through music.

Musical Performance by:

Symphonic Orchestra of the Balearic Islands directed by Maestro Pablo Mielgo
Yasmine Azaiez (violin)
Bing Bing Wang (Soprano)
Burak Bilgili (Bass)
Fatma Said (Soprano)
Huiling Zhu (Mezzo)
Vladimir Galouzine (Tenor)
Warren Mok (Tenor)
Yuan Gao (Soprano)

Remarks by:

Michael Moller, Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva
Guillaume Barazzone, Mayor of Geneva (tbc)
Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli, President of the UN Human Rights Council
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
Miguel Ángel Moratinos, President of Fundación Onuart.

PEACEapp Tangiers
2017-10-02 - 2017-10-07 | Center for the Development and Empowerment of Youth Capacities of Ard Daoula, Tangier, Morocco
In the framework of contributing to the prevention of violent extremism and sensitization of public opinion to counter prejudices and stereotypes, which seek to spread hatred and racism, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) organizes PEACEapp Tangiers, from 02 to 07 October 2017, in the Center for the Development and Empowerment of Youth Capacities of Ard Daoula; in partnership with the Mediterranean Democratic Institute for Development and Training (IMDDF), Spanish collective Ideas Por la Paz, OmniumLab Company; with the collaboration of Cooperazione per lo Sviluppo dei Paesi Emergenti organization (COSPE), Association Mediterranean Meeting for Migration & Development (ARMID), Association Dreams of Childs & Youngsters (AREJ), Association TADAMON.
PEACEAapp Tangiers is a UNAOC initiative providing an opportunity for Digital Literacy through video game design in benefit of more than 30 youth participants comprised of locals, refugees and immigrants, as a platform for intercultural development and youth empowerment.
PEACEapp Tangiers will be inaugurated by a press conference with the presence of UNAOC Project Manager Mr. Jordi TORRENT, PEACEapp local coordinator Mr. Said BAKKALI, and OmniumLab president Mr. José Antonio Racero on Monday, 02 October 2017 starting from 11.00 am at Center for the Development and Empowerment of Youth Capacities of Ard Daoula.
For more information, please contact Mr. Jordi Torrent (jordit@unaoc.org) and visit unaoc.org/peaceapp.

UNAOC Fellowship Programme 2017: "The role of media and civil society in combatting hatred and fostering inclusion"
2017-10-01 - 2017-11-01
Twelve emerging leaders from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the State of Palestine, and Tunisia will travel from October 1st to October 18th to the United States, Germany, France, and Spain. Then, twelve emerging leaders from Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, the United Kingdom and the United States, will travel from October 15th to November 1st to Spain, Morocco, Egypt and Qatar. Both groups will meet in Madrid, Spain for two days.
During their respective trip, besides addressing issues related to intercultural dialogue, both cohorts will also take part in activities and discussions focusing on a secondary theme: “The role of media and civil society in combatting hatred and fostering inclusion”. This theme has been chosen to ensure that the programme has a concrete impact on the ground, while serving UNAOC mission to foster intercultural collaborations. The choice of such theme has also framed the selection process and participants from both group are all involved professionally in the field of media and/or civil society.

2017 Fellowship Itinerary

MENA Cohort
Oct. 1-4: Washington D.C., U.S.
Oct. 4-7: New York, U.S.
Oct. 8-11: Berlin, Germany
Oct. 11-15: Paris France

Meeting between MENA and EUNA cohorts:
Oct. 15-18: Madrid, Spain

EUNA Cohort
Oct. 18-22: Rabat, Morocco
Oct. 22-27: Cairo, Egypt
Oct. 27-Nov. 1: Doha, Qatar

The UNAOC Fellowship Program aims to build bridges between cultures and societies through dialogue and cooperation, and to reinforce the global commitment to live together in mutual tolerance and respect. For more information about the UNAOC Fellowship Program, please visit its website.

Unraveling #fakenews from opinion-making information: a News Literacy discussion
2017-09-07 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 6, UN Headquarters, Conference Room 6, New York, NY, United States
This event was streamed live.
Click here to view the webcast.
This panel discussion is the second installment of a series of panels organized by UNAOC at UNHQ on topics relevant to Media and Information Literacy. Following February’s discussion “Media and Information Literacy: Educational Strategies for the Prevention of Violent Extremism”, this panel will focus on the “fake news in social media” phenomena from the perspective of News Literacy.
News Literacy is defined as the development of critical thinking skills applied to judge the reliability and credibility of information, whether it comes via print, radio, television or the Internet. The term News Literacy is generally associated with schools of communication and journalism rather than pedagogical schools. Some view it as a sub‐sector of the Media and Information Literacy (MIL) field; others as a distinct and unique entity.

UNAOC recognizes the urgency of developing and expanding News Literacy skills in the current political and social state of the world. The onset of so-called “fake news”, widely distributed through social media platforms, has the capacity to twist public opinion and shape individuals’ ideological preferences and visions of the world.
News Literacy is an acutely important skill in the Digital Age as citizens struggle with information overload and the intricacies of determining its authenticity. A citizens’ ability to judge the relevance and reliability of information is a leading indicator of the public health of civil society around the world.

SPEAKERS:

NihalSaad, Chief of Cabinet & Spokesperson for the UNAOC High Representative
Maher Nasser, Director, Outreach Division, United Nations Department of Public Information
Howard Schneider, Executive Director, Center for News Literacy, Stony Brook University
Alan Miller, Founder and CEO, News Literacy Project
Mitra Kalita, Vice-President of Programming, CNN
Áine Kerr, Manager of Journalism Partnerships, Facebook
Dina Temple-Raston, Counterterrorism Correspondent, National Public Radio
Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Executive Director, National Association for Media Literacy Education

WHEN:
Thursday, September 7th, 2017, 11 am to 1 pm

WHERE:
Conference Room 6, United Nations Headquarters, New York

RSVP:
This event is by invitation. RSVP is mandatory. Please register by Wednesday, August 30th, 2017.
Click here to RSVP now.

CONTACT:
For additional information please contact Jordi Torrent at jordit@unops.org.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
The official hashtag is #UnravelFakeNews. Please follow @UNAOC on twitter for our live coverage.

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PROGRAMME
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Panel Discussion: The Role of Religious Leaders in Peacebuilding in the Middle East
2017-07-18 15:00 - 18:00 (America/Halifax) | UNHQ Conference Room 3, United Nations Headquarters, New York, 10017, United States
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is organizing a panel discussion on “The Role of Religious Leaders in Peacebuilding in the Middle East”. The event will take place on 18 July 2017 at the United Nations headquarters, New York. The opening session will feature the United Nations Secretary-General, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and three religious leaders representing the three monotheistic religions of the Holy Land – Muslim, Jewish and Christian.
The panel discussion will serve as a follow-up to the November 2016 Summit of Religious Leaders for Peace in the Middle East, held in Alicante, Spain – an initiative facilitated by the Spanish Government and co-sponsored by UNAOC.
The stability of the Middle East region is crucial to the peace and stability of the world. The fifty long years of the Arab-Israeli conflict have fueled cycles of violence and retribution. Moreover, the prolonged conflict has been misappropriated and exploited by extremist groups and elements.
In this context, religious leaders in the Holy Land play a key role in peacebuilding through promoting peaceful co-existence and tolerance as well as providing a counter-narrative to violent extremism.
Religious ideologies continue to carry great weight with a vast majority of people throughout the Middle East. For some, this may pose a challenge for peace and stability. But it may also provide an opportunity for a solution. As such, public discourse within and between Jewish and Muslim religious leaders who promote the culture of peace inherent in these religions, maybe a way forward to ease the political tension in the Holy land.
With such influence within their respective communities, religious leaders play a role in building trust and mutual understanding. They summon their communities to live in peace side by side in the Holy Land.
This initiative is based on the assumption that true peace between Israelis and Palestinians is possible when mutual trust exists between them. The goal of the initiative is to prepare the hearts and minds for true peace in the Middle East by involving religious leadership from both sides who voice a common message of peaceful coexistence as an essential element for building and sustaining peace. Read moreHide text
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10th GFMD Summit - UNAOC Side Event: "Fostering Migrant Integration Through Innovative Civil Society Actions"
2017-06-29 10:50 - 11:50 (Europe/Berlin) | German Federal Foreign Office (Berlin, Germany), Berlin, Germany
As part of its work toward a more peaceful, more socially inclusive world, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has researched and explored how different actors in society can work together to find concrete solutions towards a better integration of newcomers – refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants pursuing family reunification, education or employment – within our modern societies.
Throughout its various programs and initiatives, UNAOC has brought together journalists, media experts, academics, civil society organizations, youth and young leaders, policy makers, representatives of governments and international organizations, educators, migrants, as well as the business community, including tech companies, to come up with global recommendations to help integrate immigrants and refugees into more welcoming societies.
This endeavor stems from the understanding that regional and domestic civil society initiatives are among the most creative and innovative when it comes to creating conditions that are conducive to the integration of newcomers. Civil society initiatives are often designed by communities that are directly impacted and affected by the arrivals of new groups.
In this context, civil society organizations can help promote non-discrimination, provide training, foster trust and engage communities. They can also act as trusted reporters providing valuable information on incidents and delivering effective strategies and campaigns, as they often have experience in developing methods, definitions, and indicators related to migration.
As part of its side event at the 10th GFMD Summit Meeting, and on the margins of Roundtable 3.2, “Strengthening Cooperation – Enabling Civil Society Contributions in Migrant Integration,” UNAOC will showcase the work of various civil society organizations that have received its Intercultural Innovation Award, a joint initiative between UNAOC and BMW Group that aims to select and support innovative grassroots projects which encourage intercultural dialogue and cooperation around the world, making vital contribution to prosperity and peace.
Format:
Presentations by civil organizations representatives and/or beneficiaries will take the format of a TED talk: each presentation will be concise (7-10 minutes maximum) with a focus on lessons learned and recommendations. Each speaker will present standing and will be encouraged to use visual elements (video, photos, etc.) to keep the audience engaged.
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World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
2017-05-22 15:00 - 18:00 (America/Halifax) | United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, 10, United States
The Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the United Nations, in partnership with The Give Them a Hand Foundation, the International Association of Applied Psychology and the United African Congress
cordially invite you to attend a conference held in observance of

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
Monday, 22 May 2017, 3:00PM-6:00PM
United Nation Headquarters, New York City, Conference Room 4

This event is an opportunity to deepen the understanding of the value of cultural diversity and to advance the goals of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Also, this year being the International Year of Sustainable Tourism, both observances intersect, in the conference theme, “Local Culture as a Driver for Economic Growth.” Programme for the Cultural Diversity Conference “Local Culture as a Driver for Economic Growth”.

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Workshop: Muslim Humanitarian and Development Organizations in and around Conflict Zones: Barriers to and Opportunities for engagement
2017-05-22 - 2017-05-23 | UN Headquarters, Conference Room 9, United Nations, New York, NY, 10017, United States
The workshop is co-organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations – as Lead for the UN Interagency Task Force on Religion and Development – in partnership with the European Commission, the British Council and the, the Georgia State University. It will be held on 22-23 May 2017 at the UN Headquarters, Conference Room 9.

A Closed-Door Dialogue and Focus Group
This year, in partnership with the British Council and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations -‐ as Lead for the UN Interagency Task Force on Religion and Development -‐ the Civic Approaches to Conflict in the Muslim World Initiative at Georgia State University will convene leaders in the humanitarian and development sectors. The discussion will consider ways that the Muslim development and aid sector can be more robustly engaged to address the shared challenges facing the international community. In doing so we also aim to build trust and share knowledge between non-government, faith-based actors working with American, European and Middle Eastern policymakers.
Under the auspices of the Civic Approaches framework, we have explored the ways in which civil society organizations and networks in Muslim societies have mitigated, prevented, or helped stabilized various forms of conflict and violence. Our focus groups and case studies have investigated topics such as the Syrian refugee crisis, Islamic sectarian violence, and radicalization. Our recently published report, Civic Approaches to Confronting Violent Extremism, is a good representation of the kind of sector- wide research we produce.
The meeting in NYC is a continuation of smaller focus groups conducted last year in Istanbul, Washington D.C., and Brussels. We believe that your experience with the issues we are exploring, especially in your role with the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Engaging Faith-Based Organizations for Development, will add tremendous depth to the discussion and the final report to be published in August 2017.

Concept Note
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UNAOC Group of Friends Meeting
2017-04-19 15:00 - 17:30 (America/Halifax) | UN Headquarters, Conference Room 2, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, United States
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) will be holding its next Group of Friends Meeting (Ambassadorial level) on 19 April 2017, from 3:00 to 5:30 pm, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Conference Room 2.
Download the Agenda Download the Programme
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Preventative Diplomacy: A Soft Power Tool (Closed Event. By Invitation Only.)
2017-03-20 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Halifax) | Conference Room 9, UNHQ, New York, NY, United States
UNAOC is hosting a round-table discussion entitled: “Preventive Diplomacy: A Soft Power Tool” which will consist of an opening statement by the UNAOC High Representative, an address by Dr. Cahill and short presentations by invited speakers. The speakers will be followed by a moderated Q & A session.
The main objective of this event is to draw attention to the importance of moving swiftly to support the Secretary-General’s commitment to the concept and practice of conflict prevention.
Closed Event. By Invitation Only.
Watch live through the web stream

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Second Intercultural Innovation Award Capacity Building Workshop
2017-02-12 - 2017-02-16 | Gurgaon, India
Summary:
The ten recipients of the Intercultural Innovation Award at the 7th UNAOC Global Forum will take part in their second capacity building workshop, to be held at various locations in Delhi and Gurgaon, India. The workshop will be focused on leadership, organizational development and sustainability, in addition to monitoring and evaluation.
Date:
12 February to 16 February
Location:
Gurgaon, India

#SpreadNoHate: Hate Speech Against Migrants and Refugees in the Media
2017-01-26 | Brussels, Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
In the framework of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations’ (UNAOC) #SpreadNoHate initiative, UNAOC and the European Union (EU) will organize a one-day symposium in Brussels on Thursday 26 January 2017.
The European symposium will focus on the Mediterranean region and on specific counter-narratives. Please revisit this page for more details. You can also follow #SpreadNoHate on social media for regular updates.

Download: Concept Note Agenda Symposium Booklet

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Program contacts:

Thibault Chareton
Media & Migration Project Specialist: ThibaultC@unops.org

Nathalie Guillaume
Policy Analyst & Public Information Officer: NathalieG@unops.org

Concert for Human Rights
2016-12-10 | Human Rights and Alliance of Civilisations Room, United Nations, Geneva, United Nations Office at Geneva , Geneva, 1211, Switzerland
On the occasion of Human Rights Day

Featuring Maestro Daniel Barenboim
& West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Saturday, 10 December 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room
at the Palais des Nations

Download: PRESS BOOK DOSSIER DE PRENSA DOSSIER DE PRESSE

Concert:
F.J. Haydn
Concerto for Violoncello, Hob. VIIb:1, C major
Soloist: Kian Soltani
W.A. Mozart
Sinfonia concertante for four winds K297b
Soloists: Oboe – Cristina Gomez Godoy;
Clarinet – Jussef Eisa;
Bassoon – Zeynep Köylüoglu;
Horn – Merav Goldman

Dress code: Women: Long dress recommended
Men: Black tie recommended

Information: Fundación ONUART
Phone: +34 933436859
Email: events@fundaciononuart.es

OPENING MESSAGE:
Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
REMARKS:
Michael Møller
Director-General of the United Nations Ofce at Geneva
Choi Kyonglim
President of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
Miguel Angel Moratinos
President of Fundación ONUART

Film Night to celebrate International People of African Descent
2016-12-08 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Halifax) | United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, 10, United States
To attend, RSVP here: http://tinyurl.com/henf7z9
Download (PDF, 386KB)

Young Peacebuilders in West Africa
2016-11-20 - 2016-11-26 | Abuja, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
The Young Peacebuilders in West Africa is designed to engage young women and young men from West Africa in an intercultural dialogue and peacebuilding experience. The aim is to support the growth of networks of young peacebuilders who are equipped with the tools to address stereotypes, prejudice and polarization in order to build more inclusive and peaceful societies in their communities and globally.
The programme is implemented in collaboration with the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY).
Click here to read more.
Read the Press Release.

PLURAL+ 2016 Youth Video Festival Awards Ceremony
2016-10-27 | The Paley Center for Media, 25 W 52nd St, New York, NY, 10019, United States
27 October, Paley Center for Media, New York. Visit the PLURAL+ website for more information.

Click here to RSVP Now

Capacity Building Training for UNAOC Youth Solidarity Fund Recipient Organizations
2016-10-24 - 2016-10-28 | ECA Conference Center, ECA Conference Center, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Youth Solidarity Fund Training
October 24-28, 2016
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The Youth Solidarity Fund (YSF) supports youth-led organizations that foster peaceful and inclusive societies by providing them with direct funding to implement their own projects promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Established in 2008, the Fund responded to calls for action made by youth-led organizations around the world on the importance of establishing funding mechanisms for youth.
The aim of the training is to consolidate and leverage lessons learned from the YSF project implementation phase and to support the sustainability of youth-led initiatives through skills enhancement, dissemination of project results and networking for partnership and solidarity. The training will also produce a set of best practices of YSF organizations, and guidelines for future recipients as part of a vision for cross-cohort collaboration and mentoring.
Agenda:
Gender mainstreaming
Monitoring and evaluation
Peace and security at the African Union
Monitoring and evaluation
Organizational development and change
Fundraising and partnerships development
Communicating about results
Mainstreaming and sharing YSF best practices
Guidance and lessons learned for future YSF recipients

2015-16 Recipient Organizations
Action Foundation Common Initiative Group (AFCIG), Cameroon
Approches Locales pour le Développement Durable (ALDED), Cameroon
Standing Together to Enable Peace Trust (STEP), India
Inspiring Development, Indonesia
Social service, Awareness Raising and Advocacy for Tranquility and Humanity (SAATH), Nepal
Leadership Initiative for Youth Empowerment (LIFE), Nigeria
Organization for Community Development (OCD), Pakistan
Sindh Community Foundation, Pakistan
Palestinian Center for Communication and Development Strategies (PCCDS), State of Palestine
YaLa Palestine, State of Palestine
Cultural educational center TOMIRIS, Tajikistan

UNAOC Fellowship Program 2016
2016-10-23 - 2016-11-23
The UNAOC Fellowship Program aims to build bridges between cultures and societies through dialogue and cooperation, and to reinforce the global commitment to live together in mutual tolerance and respect. For more information about the UNAOC Fellowship Program, please visit its website.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Fellowship Program is a two-week intercultural exchange program between young professionals and civil society leaders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and their counterparts from Europe and North America (EUNA).
Addressing issues related to intercultural understanding and interfaith dialogue is at the core of the program. In 2016, activities and discussions of the Fellowship will also focus on, “Education as a tool for the prevention of radicalization and xenophobia.” This year, participants have been selected for their professional achievements in the field of education in their home countries.
Read the full press release here

UNAOC Fellows itinerary in 2016:
MENA Fellows:
Oct 23 – 26: Washington, D.C., USA
Oct. 26 – 29: New York, NY, USA
Oct. 30 – Nov. 2: Berlin, Germany
Nov. 2 – 6: Paris, France
MENA & EUNA Fellows:
Nov. 6 – 9: Cordoba, Spain
EUNA Fellows:
Nov. 9 – 13: Rabat & Casablanca, Morocco
Nov. 13 – 18: Cairo, Egypt
Nov. 18 – 23: Doha, Qatar
*Note: The above itinerary is subject to change. This page will be updated accordingly.

The International Conference on Role of Youth in Preventing & Countering Violent Extremism: Holistic Approaches from Education to De-radicalization
2016-10-20 - 2016-10-21 | Hilton – Istanbul, Turkey, Hilton Bosphorus Hotel Convention Center, Istanbul, Turkey
The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) will co-host the International Conference on “the Role of Youth in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE): Holistic Approaches, from Education to De-radicalization” to be held on 20-21 October 2016, in Istanbul. (Read press release here)
Download (PDF, 334KB)

Screening of PLURAL+ award winning videos in Jordan
2016-10-17 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Halifax) | The Rainbow Theater, Mohammad Rida Street, First Circle, Amman , Jordan
The Royal Film Commission of Jordan in association with PLURAL+ presents a selection of PLURAL+ award winning videos, including:
“After the Parting” by Faten Wasim Alnabelsy, Jordan, PLURAL+ 2009 award winner
“You Can” by Omar Hbosh, Abd-‐Alhakeem Abu Saed, Ahmad Amoghraby and Hussein Abu Subhiyah,Jordan, PLURAL+ 2010 award winner
“As I Want” by Alaa Al Sa’di, Jordan, PLURAL+ 2013 award winner
“Blue Eyes” by Al-‐Mothana Al-‐Ghazzawi & Anas Yahya, PLURAL+ 2014 award winner
“The Girl, Whose Shadow Reflects the Moon” by Walaa, Syrian young refugee, PLURAL+ 2015 award winner
“Exit Right” by Rupert Holler & Bernhard Wenger, Austria, PLURAL+ 2015 award winner
“Another Kind of Girl” by Khaldiya, Syrian young refugee, PLURAL+ 2015 award winner
“Inspire” by Awais Ali & Shehroze Khan, UK, PLURAL+ 2015 award winner
“Unfinished Tales: Fool’s Paradise” by Hussam Ismail, Jordan, PLURAL+ 2016 award winner
“I’m Human” by Razan Haikal, Jordan, PLURAL+ 2016 award winner
Followed up by a discussion with the filmmakers and Nada Doumani, Communication and Culture Manager; Royal Film Commission Jordan, Enrico Ponziani, IOM Chief Jordan; Jordi Torrent, Project Manager, Media Literacy Education, UNAOC.
Download (PDF, 509KB)

Media and Information Literacy initiatives in Jordan and in the MENA region
2016-10-12 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | Jordan Media Institute, Amman, Jordan
UNESCO Amman Office, UNAOC, and Jordan Media Institute
Cordially invite you to the event:
Media and Information Literacy initiatives in Jordan and in the MENA region
including the launch of
UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Policy and Strategy Guidelines in Arabic,
UNESCO Massive Open Online Course in Media and Information Literacy (MIL MOOC) in Arabic, and the
UNAOC publication “Opportunities for Media and Information Literacy in the Middle East and North Africa.

Download (PDF, 1.01MB)

Welcoming Week
2016-09-16 - 2016-09-25
UNAOC is proud to be a partner of Welcoming America’s Welcoming Week, and we encourage you to join the movement! You can do so by hosting an event in your community to help raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone – including new Americans. By hosting an event, you are part of a movement across the US and the world who recognize that immigrants and refugees make our communities stronger economically, socially, and culturally. Click here to learn more.

Combating xenophobic language in the media and fostering inclusive integration of migrants and refugees
2016-09-15 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | UNHQ Conference Room 5, United Nations Headquarters, New York, United States
Thursday 15 September, 10:00 – 13:00, Conference Room 5, United Nations Headquarters
Co-sponsored by the European Union, the International Organization for Migration, and the Permanent Mission of Malta to the United Nations

On the occasion of the 71st Session of the United Nations of the General Assembly (UNGA), the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) will convene a side event on “Combating xenophobic language in the media and fostering inclusive integration of migrants and refugees.” (Download concept note )

Concept Note
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Agenda
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The Mediterranean Concert
2016-07-09 | Human Rights and Alliance of Civilisations Room, United Nations, Geneva, United Nations Office at Geneva , Geneva, 1211, Switzerland
The Mediterranean Concert
Human Rights and Alliance of Civilisations Room, United Nations, Geneva

ORGANISED BY: FUNDACION ONUART
SPONSORED BY: THE UNITED NATIONS ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS (UNAOC)
ARTISTIC PRODUCER: ORIOL FERRER
DATE: 9th JULY 2016

Throughout history, this sea has been the cradle of exceptionally important civilisations, and for centuries a variety of languages, religions and traditions have coexisted on its shores.
Far from being a barrier, the Mediterranean has been a channel for communication, a bridge between cultures, since antiquity. Its peoples have used it as a route for the exchange of goods, but also of knowledge and wisdom. This is perhaps why their music and song have drunk from the same source of inspiration, and there are many influences of theme, style and rhythm that they all share.
This concert, especially organised by Fundación ONUART at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, will have artists from different cultures sharing a stage, artists with diverse tongues, different religions, varied styles and traditions yet all of them with one common purpose: to reclaim the Mediterranean as a meeting point of cultures.
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Intercultural Innovation Award Capacity Building Workshop
2016-06-27 - 2016-07-01
Summary:
The ten recipients of the Intercultural Innovation Award at the 7th UNAOC Global Forum will take part in their first capacity building workshop, to be held at the BMW Group Headquarters in Munich, Germany. The focus of the workshop will be on effective planning and strategic communication.
Date:
27 June to 1 July
Location:
BMW Group Headquarters
Munich, Germany

Youth Action Series Brownbag Discussion: “Community Mobilization on Women’s Safety in India through ICT”
2016-06-02 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Halifax) | UN Women Headquarters, Room 19-20, 220 East 42nd Street, New York, United States
United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development’s Working Group on Youth and Gender Equality & United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
Youth Action Series Brownbag Discussion with Elsa DSilva
Intercultural Innovation Award Recipient and Founder of Red Dot Foundation – Safecity

on
“Community Mobilization on Women’s Safety in India through ICT”
When: June 2, 2016, 1pm-2pm EST
Where: UN Women Headquarters, 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY Room 19-20
RSVP to youth@unwomen.org
@UNWomen4youth | @unaoc | @iiaward | @pinthecreep | #UNAOCyouth | #LEAPsInGenderEquality

Promoting Migrant Integration and Combating Xenophobia
2016-06-02 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | UNHQ, CB, Conference Room 3
Organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
In collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Canada and South Africa to the UN

7th UNAOC Global Forum
2016-04-25 - 2016-04-27 | Baku, Azerbaijan
“Living Together in Inclusive Societies: A Challenge and A Goal,” will be the theme of the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), to be held April 25-27, 2016 in Baku, Azerbaijan. By stressing the “inclusive” aspect of “living together,” the UNAOC 7th Forum will harness the multiple perspectives of various sectors to meet the challenge of, and progress towards, inclusive living in today’s increasingly diverse societies.
Click here for more information about the UNAOC 7th Global Forum
