BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.unaoc.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/Helsinki BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0300 TZNAME:EEST DTSTART:20200329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0300 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:EET DTSTART:20201025T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0300 TZNAME:EEST DTSTART:20210328T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0300 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:EET DTSTART:20211031T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0300 TZNAME:EEST DTSTART:20220327T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0300 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:EET DTSTART:20221030T010000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Halifax BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20180311T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20181104T050000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20190310T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20191103T050000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20200308T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20201101T050000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20210314T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20211107T050000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20220313T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20221106T050000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20211006T110000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20211006T170000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20211004T134234Z LAST-MODIFIED:20211004T135604Z UID:30532-1633518000-1633539600@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Seville Dialogue on Creating Cities of Resilience DESCRIPTION:Venue: FIBES Palace of Congresses and Expositions\, Seville\, Spain\nDate: 6 October 2021 (First Urban Forum of Spain and Third Global Forum of Local Governments 5 – 7 October) \nCo-Chairs:\nHis Excellency Miguel Angel Moratinos\, High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations\nThe Honorable Juan Espadas\, Mayor of Seville \nBackground: \nHistorically\, cities have been places of exchange between the world’s culturally\, ethnically and religiously diverse populations that live and share together a common urban space. Yet\, growing ethnic and religious tensions have recently made the challenge of creating peaceful cities of belonging ever more difficult. In this context\, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the City of Los Angeles organized in March of 2020 the “LA Dialogue on Creating Cities of Belonging”\, providing space for mayors\, regional government leaders and civil society to work together towards creating more inclusive and peaceful cities. \nShortly after this gathering\, the Covid-19 pandemic\, far from being only a health crisis\, once again put cities at the forefront of the response to a global emergency which has affected millions of people\, completely devastated social fabrics and pushed entire populations to the brink of poverty. The “Seville Dialogue on Creating Cities of Resilience” aims to bring mayors and regional leaders to share their experience and good practices in responding to the pandemic and best means to recover better to build cohesive\, inclusive and greener societies that hold citizens at their core. \nThe Seville Dialogue on Creating Cities of Resilience \nCities are often at the forefront of humanity’s biggest challenges. They are hubs where diverse populations coexist\, gather and interact on a daily basis in an endless variety of public spaces\, from the workplace or schools to public transportation and parks. As such\, cities are charged with the complex task of providing equitably for the ever-increasing multicultural and multi-generational population that lives in them. However\, these places of exchange and accommodation of cultural diversity are progressively seeing preoccupying trends that further expand the gap between the rich and the poor\, that hamper access to basic human rights\, and that sow divisions on the basis of culture\, ethnicity and faith. The urgency of making cities “more inclusive\, safe\, resilient and sustainable\,” as determined by SDG 11 and SDG 16 of the 2030 UN Agenda\, is not a new concept. The Covid-19 pandemic has not only exposed the extent of global vulnerabilities and inequalities in cities particularly\, but it has also underlined the deep need to foster more resilient population hubs\, while simultaneously providing a unique window of opportunity for doing so. \nDespite its initial character as a global health crisis\, more than a year and a half of the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront a political\, social\, economic\, and urban crisis. These crises have been particularly severe in urban spaces which\, given their sheer size and role as connective\, global hubs for people and goods\, saw 95% of the world’s virus cases in the first months of the pandemic. As in most emergencies\, it is the vulnerable communities of society and their marginalized populations who suffer the most. Endemic patterns of inequalities within cities\, often characterized by unequal and in many cases inaccessible basic health\, sanitation and social protection systems\, as well as poverty and overcrowded living conditions\, became key destabilizing factors which increased the epidemic’s overall impact. \nNonetheless\, it is also cities that have spearheaded enlightened responses to provide fast and essential answers to the current crisis. From swiftly redesigned urban spaces and easily accessible financial and food support stations for homeless populations\, to population-wide increased emergency care\, or dedicated health protection websites for migrants\, cities soon become main actors in addressing the global Covid-19 pandemic. \nMeanwhile\, local governments and cities find themselves at a critical crossroads: the “new normal” seems to be irreversible. However\, this is also a unique opportunity for them to become the main architects of a new social contract\, one that can be the spinal cord of fairer\, stronger and better societies. Urban hubs are now faced with the challenge of providing sustainable solutions to the chasms underlined by the pandemic and to tackle inequality at its roots. With the support of the United Nations\, the world’s cities must work towards a more sustainable future by\, among other actions: ensuring the participation of marginalized groups and capitalizing on their knowledge in decision making processes; improving access to health\, education and technology in particularly disadvantaged areas; and creating safer\, greener spaces for people to share and live together in the urban world. Indisputably\, it is only by working together and sharing knowledge that we\, as a global population\, can achieve this urgent goal. \nHence\, it is in this spirit that the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the City of Seville have organized the “Seville Dialogue on Creating Cities of Resilience”\, intended as a space for mayors\, local government leaders and civil society to share best practices and lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic\, as well as to brainstorm together how to rebuild cohesive\, inclusive and more sustainable societies where the world’s many cultures\, but one humanity\, can live together in peace and exercise mutual respect. \nThe United Nations Alliance of Civilizations \nThe United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is the United Nations entity that has placed dialogue among different cultures and faiths at the core of its activities. Its mandate is “to improve understanding and cooperation among nations and peoples across cultures and to reduce polarization at local and global levels.” With the mantra “One Humanity\, many cultures”\, UNAOC is an ardent defender of inclusiveness. It recognizes that there is a plurality of civilizations. Each and every one of them has contributed to enriching our common and single humanity. UNAOC’s work is based on the notion that shaping the future we want for humankind\, does not only rest in our collective efforts to save our planet\, but also on nurturing cultural diversity\, pluralism and a sense of belonging. \nUNAOC and the City of Seville have a long standing approach in fostering inclusive and sustainable cities. Hence\, the integration of the “Seville Dialogue on Creating Cities of Resilience” into the First Urban Forum of Spain and the Third Global Forum of\nLocal Governments\, which will focus on “Cities and Territories in the Social and Economic Recuperation”\, was a natural partnering decision. \nCity of Seville’s First Urban Forum of Spain and Third Global Forum of Local Governments \nThe forum invites national and local leaders\, university experts and civil society to explore\, reflect and debate on the topics of “Cities and Health”\, “Equity and Social Cohesion”\, “Ecological Transition and City Models” and “Digital Transformation and Innovation”\, while determining best practices and means to create more sustainable cities. \nSeville \nGiven its history and present social fabric\, Seville is a unique place for hosting the second edition of the Dialogues. Having seen the passage of many of the world’s civilizations and being a place where diverse religions and cultures have historically coexisted\, Seville keeps within its walls the secrets to promoting diversity\, dialogue and inclusion between its citizens\, as well as the will to build back better and stronger during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. \nDownload (PDF\, 929KB) URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/seville-dialogue-on-creating-cities-of-resilience/ LOCATION:FIBES Palace of Congresses and Expositions\, Seville\, Spain CATEGORIES:International Conference,UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20211001T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20211001T110000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210930T214321Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210930T214423Z UID:30527-1633082400-1633086000@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:'Youth confronting online hate speech and exploring the notion of citizenship in a digital age' DESCRIPTION:As part of the Global Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Addressing Hate Speech through Education organized by the UN Office on the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect (OSAPG) and UNESCO\, UNAOC is organizing a parallel session focusing on “Youth confronting online hate speech and exploring the notion of citizenship in a digital age”. The session will feature UNAOC programme participants who will explore the evolving notion of digital citizenship\, the skills it implies and requires\, and discuss good practices from their work and activities in their communities. \nRegister here: https://venue.events-nextechar.com/landing?show=UNESCO URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/youth-confronting-online-hate-speech-and-exploring-the-notion-of-citizenship-in-a-digital-age/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210720T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210720T103000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210706T204215Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210715T150135Z UID:30218-1626768000-1626777000@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:iTAGe: Talking Across Generations on the State of PVE in South Asia DESCRIPTION:Register Now to Join Us Live Read More: Media Advisory \n\nOrganized in collaboration with UNESCO New Delhi within the framework of UNESCO MGIEP and UNAOC’s #YouthWagingPeace programme\, iTAGe: Talking Across Generations on the State of PVE in South Asia is an intergenerational event that will provide youth with a platform to discuss peace and social cohesion with Senior Officials and policymakers from South Asia. \nThe input collected will be incorporated into a Youth-led Report on the State of PVE in South Asia as youth-centered actionable recommendations for policymakers. The report will combine the latest research on preventative efforts with uncensored youth case studies to produce fresh and robust perspectives for policymakers and a youth-centred overview of violent extremism in South Asia. URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/itage-talking-across-generations-on-the-state-of-pve-in-south-asia/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210713T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210713T120000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210708T194647Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210708T202932Z UID:30190-1626174000-1626177600@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:UNAOC Virtual Watch Party for the Safeguard of Religious Sites DESCRIPTION:UNAOC Virtual Watch Party for the Safeguard of Religious Sites\nThursday\, 13 July\, 2021 | 11:00 AM EDT | Online \n\nJoin us for a virtual “watch party” featuring short films submitted by the global community as part of UNAOC’s campaign #forSafeWorship to safeguard religious sites and worshippers worldwide! To learn more about the global call to action #forSafeWorship and submit your own video\, visit https://forsafeworship.org/. \nJoin the Watch Party Live Here\n\n \nFeatured Videos \n\nReligious Sites in Egypt by Sandra Gobran (Egypt) \nSynopsis: In this short video\, Sandra tells us about temples and tombs in Egypt and the importance of ensuring that all religious sites are safe.\nhttps://forsafeworship.org/religious-sites-in-egypt/ \nA Dialogue between “la Bomba” and Catholic Rituals in Puerto Rico by Father Rocendo Herrera (Puerto Rico)\nSynopsis: In this short video\, we meet Father Rocendo Herrera\, who introduces us to St. Patrick Church of the Holy Spirit\, in Loiza\, on the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico. St. Patrick Church of the Holy Spirit is the third oldest parish on the island and the only one currently in use. Located in an Afro-Caribbean municipality in Puerto Rico\, this place of worship embodies a dialogue between Catholicism and the playing of Puerto Rican drums known as “La Bomba”.\nhttps://forsafeworship.org/a-dialogue-between-la-bomba-and-catholic-rituals-in-puerto-rico/ \nA Dialogue between “la Bomba” and Catholic Rituals in Puerto Rico by Afaf Lamkoutar (Morocco)\nSynopsis: In this short video\, UNAOC Young Peacebuilder Afaf speaks about the many cultures\, religions\, and sacred sites in her hometown of Rabat\, Morocco.\nhttps://forsafeworship.org/a-mosaic-of-religions-in-rabat-morocco/ \nA Chapel with Special Powers by Ismael Lopez (Spain)\nSynopsis: In this video\, Ismael takes us on a tour of the Church of St. Valenti in the Valley of Salarça\, in Catalonia\, Spain. Built in the 12th century\, the chapel’s location\, according to legend\, exudes a certain energy that helps people solve all types of problems and conflicts.\nhttps://forsafeworship.org/a-chapel-with-special-powers/ \nExploring Religious Sites in the Philippines by Theodore Boborol (Philippines)\nSynopsis: In this short video\, Theodore takes us on a tour of his university campus\, shows us his favorite church on campus grounds\, and leads us to a few side detours down memory lane.\nhttps://forsafeworship.org/exploring-religious-sites-in-the-philippines-director-theodore-boborol/\n\n\nThe Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial by Daniel del Valle (Spain)\nSynopsis: In this short film\, Daniel takes us on a tour of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial\, where he once lived and studied as a member of the Royal Choir of Spain.\nhttps://forsafeworship.org/the-monastery-of-san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial/ \nThe Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle in South Texas\, USA by Lydia Pesina (USA)\nSynopsis: In this short film\, Lydia tells us about the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle\, in South Texas\, a very special place in her life since childhood. The Basilica caters to a diverse population\, including a large immigrant community\, and even has its own Mariachi band!\nhttps://forsafeworship.org/basilica-lady-of-sanjuan-delvalle/ \nReligious Diversity in Indonesia by Steve Leonard Harison (Indonesia)\nSynopsis: In this short video\, Steve talks to us about religious diversity in Indonesia and the importance of protecting religious sites worldwide.\nhttps://forsafeworship.org/religious-diversity-in-indonesia/ \nThe Coronado Cross in Kansas by Gentry (USA)\nSynopsis: In this short video\, Gentry takes us to Kansas\, right outside of Dodge City\, to see the Coronado Cross. The site commemorates a mass held for the first time in this part of the country by Father Juan de Padilla in 1541\, predating the landing of the Pilgrims by almost 100 years.\nhttps://forsafeworship.org/the-coronado-cross-in-kansas/ \nA Religious Site with Interfaith Influences in Bangladesh by Tushar Kanti Baidya (Bangladesh)\nSynopsis: In this short video\, UNAOC alumnus Tushar tells us about a temple he likes to visit in Bangladesh\, and the significance of this site in his life.\nhttps://forsafeworship.org/a-religious-site-with-interfaith-influences-in-bangladesh/ URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/unaoc-virtual-watch-party-for-the-safeguard-of-religious-sites/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210707T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210707T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210630T140610Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210706T174949Z UID:30153-1625662800-1625668200@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Global Pledge for Action by Religious Actors and Faith-Based Organizations to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic in Collaboration with the United Nations: A Side Event in the Margins of the High-level Political Forum DESCRIPTION:Co-organized by the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect\, the UN Alliance of Civilizations\, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights\, with the co-sponsorship of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Croatia\, and Religions for Peace \n \nJoin Us Live Read More \n\nThe global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has turned into a socio-economic crisis as well as a human rights crisis rolled into one. It has exacerbated the vulnerability of the least protected in society. While the virus does not discriminate\, its impacts do. Crises\, including outbreaks of diseases\, create anxiety and fear that are key ingredients for racism\, xenophobia and religious intolerance to thrive. Hate speech is the most blatant manifestation of these phenomena. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic\, all regions have seen increased trends of hate speech based on ethnic and religious identity\, as well as migration status. Xenophobia has surged online and in the streets. Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories have spread\, and COVID-19-related anti-Muslim attacks have occurred. Migrants and refugees have been vilified as a source of the virus – and then denied access to medical treatment. In some countries\, political leaders have used labels like “foreigner’s disease” to describe COVID-19\, fueling stigmatization of minority groups\, racism\, xenophobia and related intolerance. Social media platforms have been misused to propagate hate and often incite violence. \nIn this context\, on 8 May 2020\, the UN Secretary-General launched a Global Appeal to Address and Counter COVID-19 related hate speech. The appeal included a call on civil society to strengthen outreach to vulnerable people\, and religious actors to serve as models of mutual respect. Building on this appeal\, the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect (OSAPG)\, the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) convened on 28 May 2020 a group of religious leaders and actors and faith-based organizations to explore innovative ways to partner in the response to COVID-19 and discuss relevant thematic areas as well as possible actions and initiatives. This consultation resulted in the Global Pledge for Action by Religious Actors and Faith-Based Organizations to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic in collaboration with the United Nations . The Pledge includes a declaration by religious leaders and actors with assurances and commitments in response to COVID-19\, and a mapping of ongoing activities and possible areas of collaboration with the United Nations. \nAddressing and countering COVID-19 related hate speech\, interfaith dialogue and capacity-building figure prominently in the mapping both as cross-cutting issues and as specific areas where religious leaders and faith-based organizations are focusing their actions and responses to COVID-19. In particular\, the signatories to the Global Pledge committed themselves to “stand up and speak against hate speech and hate crimes\, xenophobia\, racism and all other forms of discrimination; and to work with the United Nations and all other relevant stakeholders to implement the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech and the UN Guidance on Addressing and Countering COVID-19 related Hate Speech.” \nWith the objective of translating the Global Pledge into specific actions for further collaboration and enhanced partnership between the United Nations and faith actors\, OSAPG\, UNAOC and OHCHR organized a peer-to-peer learning programme. Six monthly webinars took place between December 2020 and May 2021\, which focused on the role and experiences of faith actors in promoting gender equality\, addressing hate speech\, safeguarding religious sites\, protecting religious or belief minorities\, preventing atrocity crimes and facilitating and fostering interfaith dialogue & mutual respect . The webinars aimed to ensure gender balance in terms of participation and to highlight the contribution of women in the fight against hate speech. The webinars targeted participants with experience working in the field to address challenges related to COVID-19 and its socio-economic impacts and shared good practices and lessons learnt in this regard. Each webinar resulted in snapshots of learning points and recommendations that were compiled together. This compilation\, that is publicly available\, provides the basis for further UN engagement with faith actors and civil society on combatting hate speech and its ramifications in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.\nRead moreHide text\nAgendaConcept NoteDownload (PDF\, 269KB) \n\nDownload (PDF\, 102KB) URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/hlpf-side-event-global-pledge-for-action-by-religious-actors-and-faith-based-organizations-to-address-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-collaboration-with-the-united-nations/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210630T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210630T150000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210609T181151Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210629T160240Z UID:30062-1625059800-1625065200@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Prevention and the Misuse of New Communication Platforms: A Side Event in the Margins of the 2021 Counter-Terrorism Week DESCRIPTION:Prevention and the Misuse of New Communication Platforms\nCo-organized by UNAOC\, UNCCT\, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia \nRegister for the Side Event Here \n \n\n\n\n\nDownload (PDF\, 448KB) URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/prevention-and-the-misuse-of-new-communication-platforms-counter-terrorism-week-side-event/ CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210629T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210629T150000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210623T135556Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210623T135736Z UID:30116-1624973400-1624978800@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Securing of Vulnerable Targets from Terrorist Attacks: Challenges of Major Sporting Event security governance - launch of the UN Guide DESCRIPTION:The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)\, along with its partners the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)\, the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS)\, has the pleasure to share the registration link to the round-table discussion on “Securing of Vulnerable Targets from Terrorist Attacks: Challenges of Major Sporting Event security governance – launch of the UN Guide ” that will take place virtually on 29th June 2021 (13:30 NY time\, 17:30 Paris Time 22:30 Bangkok time) on the margins of the 2nd United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week. \nThis event will debut the UN Global Guide on the Security of Major Sporting Events: Promoting Sustainable Security & Legacies\, developed within UN Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events\, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism\, featuring contributions from Member States\, international and regional organizations\, sports federations as well as academic and research institutions. \n Please find the registration link for the event here. Participants must register to receive the event access link. A preliminary agenda has been attached for your convenience. \nRegister Here URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/securing-of-vulnerable-targets-from-terrorist-attacks-challenges-of-major-sporting-event-security-governance-launch-of-the-un-guide/ CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210406T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210406T100000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210326T132727Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210401T180851Z UID:29702-1617699600-1617703200@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:(Re)building Post-pandemic Societies: Youth Using Sport to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism DESCRIPTION:A Side Event in the margins of the ECOSOC Youth Forum \nThe ECOSOC Youth Forum 2021 will be held in April to provide a global platform for dialogue between Member States and young leaders worldwide. In this context\, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)\, together with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)\, the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)\, and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS)\, are hosting a side event entitled (Re)building post-pandemic societies: youth using sport to prevent and counter violent extremism. Held on 6 April\, this interactive discussion will serve to commemorate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace and highlight the role of youth leadership and sport in preventing violent extremism and ensuring sustainable peace and development. \nWatch the Side Event Live URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/rebuilding-post-pandemic-societies-youth-using-sport-to-prevent-and-counter-violent-extremism/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210315T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210315T123000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210301T172432Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210315T080110Z UID:29478-1615797000-1615811400@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Exploring Holistic Approaches to Combating Antisemitism DESCRIPTION:Informal Meeting on Exploring Holistic Approaches to Combating Antisemitism \n Watch Live Here \n \n\n \nProgramme\n 07:30-08:30 Logging-in participants \n 08:30-08:40 Opening \nMr. Miguel Moratinos\, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) \n 08:40-09:40 Session I:\nSetting the Scene: How far we’ve been in the fight against antisemitism? What are the challenges? \n 09:40-11:00 Session II:\nGood/Promising practices of state actors in combating antisemitism: Turning words into Action through adopting national strategies \n 11:00-12:00 Session III:\nCreating synergies and exploring means of enhancing a system-wide response to antisemitism \n 12:00 Closing Session: The takeaways\n\n\n\n\nConcept Note \nDownload (PDF\, 339KB) \n\n\nProgramme \nDownload (PDF\, 344KB) URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/exploring-holistic-approaches-to-combating-antisemitism/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210312T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210312T133000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210309T185218Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210309T185218Z UID:29513-1615550400-1615555800@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:News Generation Against Hate: An Intergenerational Conversation DESCRIPTION:Click here to learn more URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/news-generation-against-hate-an-intergenerational-conversation/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210225T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210225T113000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210208T145359Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210211T164023Z UID:29302-1614247200-1614252600@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Global Pledge for Action Webinar on the of Safeguard Religious Sites DESCRIPTION:The Webinar on the Safeguard of Religious Sites is part of the series of six sessions on implementing the Global Pledge for Action by Religious Actors and Faith-Based Organizations to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic in Collaboration with the United Nations. \n\nBackground: The UN Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC)\, the Office on Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect (OSAPG)\, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) held a virtual consultation with religious leaders and actors on 28 May 2020. The consultation was organized in response to the 22 April call by the UN Secretary-General to religious actors to contribute to wider efforts against the pandemic and its consequences. The meeting brought together religious leaders and actors as well as faith-based organizations to discuss possible areas of action and collaboration with the United Nations in the common fight against COVID-19 and its socio-economic impacts. This consultation resulted in the Global Pledge for Action\, which includes a declaration by religious leaders and actors with assurances and commitments in response to COVID-19\, and a mapping of ongoing activities and possible areas of collaboration with the United Nations. URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/global-pledge-for-action-webinar-safeguard-religious-sites/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210204T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210204T123000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210122T162456Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210202T172803Z UID:29166-1612436400-1612441800@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:The International Day of Human Fraternity: A Pathway to the Future DESCRIPTION:In Commemoration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week\n\nCo-organized by the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations and The Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations in partnership with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and sponsorship of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity\n \nIn recognition of the moral imperatives of all religions\, convictions and beliefs to call for peace\, tolerance and mutual understanding\, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the first week of February every year the World Interfaith Harmony Week through the unanimous adoption of resolution A/RES/65/5 World Interfaith Harmony Week in 2010. Since the adoption of the resolution\, many UN Member States\, UN entities\, faith actors and relevant entities re-iterate their commitment to spreading the messages of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches\, mosques\, synagogues\, temples and other places of worship during that week\, based on love of God and love of one’s neighbor or on love of the good and love of one’s neighbor\, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions. \nThe COVID-19 pandemic has put to the test our shared human values. It laid bare deep-rooted inequalities in our societies. Communities were divided across religious\, ethnic and cultural lines. Growing religious hatred\, stigma and manifestations of various forms of discrimination against vulnerable communities including minorities risk undermining global efforts to recover and rebuild better. This phenomenon is an affront to the values and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights\, in particular the right to freedom of thought\, conscience and religion as well as the UN General Assembly resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981 “Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief”. \nAs such\, state and relevant non-state actors including\, in particular\, religious leaders from across the faith spectrum play a vital role in promoting dialogue among all religious groups leading to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all mankind. Promoting acceptance and respect of religious and cultural diversity through interreligious and intercultural dialogue will create an environment conducive to building peaceful\, just and inclusive societies. Member States who have the primary responsibility to counter discrimination and hate speech\, and all relevant actors\, including political and religious should promote inclusion and unity and to prevent\, speak out and take strong action against racism\, xenophobia\, hate speech\, violence\, discrimination\, including on the basis of age\, and stigmatization (UNGA Resolution A/74/L.92 ) \nIn that context\, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/200 on 21 December 2020 proclaiming February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity to be observed every year as of 2021. The resolution co-sponsored by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates takes note of efforts and initiatives aimed at promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue including the meeting between His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar\, Ahmad al-Tayeb on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi that resulted in the signing of the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and living Together”. It also invites all Member States to further promote a culture of peace\, tolerance\, inclusion\, understanding and solidarity. \nIn that sense\, those humanistic principles are aligned with the goals and objectives of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) which was created in 2005 to advance intercultural and interreligious dialogue as a viable tool to prevent and defuse identity-based tensions UNAOC works to advance mutual respect for cultures\, traditions\, and religious beliefs. Over the years\, it has provided a global platform for dialogue between faith actors across the faith spectrum emanating from a recognition that genuine dialogue bridges divide and overcomes prejudices\, stigmatization\, misperceptions\, and polarization. Fulfilling a world of “One Humanity\, Many Cultures” is the raison d’etre of UNAOC (A/64/14\, A/69/312) \nThe celebration of the first International Day of Human Fraternity within the setting of World Interfaith Harmony Week provides an opportunity to highlight the principles and value included in the Document of Human Fraternity and explore good practices towards its implementation as a pathway to the future as we rebuild a better world. \n\n\n \n Download the Concept Note\n\nAGENDA (tentative)\n\n\n 11:00 – 11:30 High-Level Opening\n H.E. Mr. António Guterres\nUnited Nations Secretary-General (video message)\n H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos\nThe High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)\n H.E. Mr. Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees\nPermanent Representative of Egypt\n H.E. Mrs. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh\nPermanent Representative of UAE\n H.E. Judge Mohammad Abdul-Salam\nSecretary-General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity \n\n 11:30 – 12:20 Interactive Panel\n Interventions by Member States\n Interventions by Religious Leaders/Faith Actors/FBOs \n\n 12:20 – 12:30 Conclusion\nModerator of the event: Ms. Nihal Saad\nChief-of-Cabinet & Spokesperson for UNAOC URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/the-international-day-of-human-fraternity-a-pathway-to-the-future/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210125T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210125T110000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20210119T201257Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210121T180302Z UID:29133-1611568800-1611572400@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Live Q&A: Youth Solidarity Fund Call for Applications DESCRIPTION:In December 2020\, UNAOC launched the Call for Applications for the ninth edition of the Youth Solidarity Fund\, inviting youth-led organizations to submit project proposals that seek to promote peace and social inclusion through improved understanding\, respect\, and collaboration across borders\, cultures\, faiths\, and beliefs. \nThe application process may seem daunting\, but we are here to help! UNAOC is organizing a Facebook live to address some of the most common questions and help you through the process. You may submit your questions in advance on social media by using the hashtags #YouthSolidarityFund and/or #UNAOCyouth. \nJoin the YSF Live Q&A Here URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/ysf-live/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Calls For Applications,UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210120T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210121T120000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20201215T171117Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210112T184744Z UID:29056-1611133200-1611230400@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:First Online Youth Consultation on Preventing Violent Extremism Through Sport DESCRIPTION:Preventing violent extremism through sport – An interactive youth consultation\nWednesday\, January 20\, 2021 (09.00 AM – 12.00 PM EST) and Thursday\, January 21\, 2021 (10.00 AM – 12.00 PM EST)\n\n \nThe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2419 (2018) on Youth\, Peace and Security recognizes the “growing contribution of sport and culture to the realization of development and peace in the promotion of tolerance and respect as well as the empowerment of youth and women\, individuals and communities. More recently\, UNSCR 2535 (2020) called upon the United Nations (UN) entities to improve capacity-building by integrating the Youth\, Peace and Security agenda into their technical assistance plans. Sports have historically played a significant role in the dissemination of positive values throughout the world and across civilization and cultures\, thus making sports a powerful vector for the development of efforts aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization. \nIn this context and within the framework of the “Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events\, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism”\, the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)\, and its partners\, the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)\, the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS)\, through its Save the Dream initiative\, are working to launch a series of initiatives within the prevention of violent extremism component of the UN Global Sports Programme: \n\nGlobal Awareness Campaign to Say No to Terrorism while promoting the use of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism. The Campaign will have a global dimension and aim to have its highest moment of visibility on the occasion of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games (taking place in 2021) and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.\nGuide for Policymakers to promote the role of sports and its values in preventing violent extremism and to ensure the inclusion of sports values-based initiatives in the PVE National Action Plans.\nTraining Handbook and App to assist the organizers of sport events to conduct initiatives aiming at preventing violent extremism by leveraging on sport values such as tolerance\, respect\, integrity\, solidarity\, and equality and advocate for youth and children’s participation in sports as a recreational activity helping current and new generations build transferable skills such as confidence\, self-control and teamwork.\n\nThe current youth generation is acknowledged as the largest in history\, with the global agenda increasingly focused on young people as key drivers for meaningly and impactful social movements. Their diversity in course of actions and rationale has greatly contributed to identifying and addressing the triggers of violent extremism. Moreover\, young people are the most able to mobilize their peers and to become principal stakeholders of societies that are increasingly free from stereotypes\, discrimination and extremism. Their engagement in the prevention of violent extremism spans from sports\, art and street theatre initiatives\, to online campaigns and capacity development support within global reach. Hence the several elements of the Global Programme will be designed in collaboration with young people as key\nstakeholders. \nIn this online consultation we would like to consult with and collect young leaders’ inputs on the above-mentioned deliverables (campaign\, guide\, training handbook and app). At the same time\, we would like to create a connection between the youth and decision makers\, both within as beyond the global programme\, by creating a safe space for youth to dialogue with Member States on how to improve the integration of youth in decision making processes. \nFollowing the event\, a summary document will be circulated to stimulate continued conversation and sharing information on what is needed to include in compendium and meaningfully include young people in preventing violent extremism at the local\, national\, regional and global levels. \n\n\n\nTentative Agenda\n\n Wednesday\, January 20\n(09.00 AM – 12.00 PM EST)\n Part I: Warm-up – Welcome and Introduction (20 min)\n– Pep talk + Q&A with an inspiring athlete \n Part II – First half – Youth Inputs on the project’s deliverables (1hr and 15min)\n– Policy Guide\n– Training Handbook\n– App\n– Communication Campaign \n Part III – Networking Break (10 min) \n Part IV – Second half – Youth Inputs on the project’s deliverables (1hr and 15min)\n– Policy Guide\n– Training Handbook\n– App\n– Communication Campaign \n\n Thursday\, January 21\n(10.00 AM – 12.00 PM EST)\n Part V: Game Strategy I – Role of Governments (45 min) \n– Introductory remarks about the role of NFP within the project (by UNOCT and/or\nNFP’s) – 10 min\n– Ice-breaker case studies regarding policy experiences on Sport and PVE – 35 min \n Part VI – Game Strategy II – Dialogue with Member States – NFPs (1hr and 15 min) \n– Discuss how to establish cooperation mechanisms within the scope of the project and beyond URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/first-online-youth-consultation-on-preventing-violent-extremism-through-sport/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20201210T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20201210T130000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20201207T211818Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201209T161853Z UID:28950-1607598000-1607605200@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:UNAOC Fellowship Alumni Event: “Building peace and fostering social cohesion in the age of new media” DESCRIPTION:Organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and supported by the Federal Foreign Office of the Republic of Germany\n \n\n\n When: Thursday 10 December from 11:00AM to 1:00AM EST. \n Where: https://www.unaoc.org/fellowship-alumni-event \n\nBackground \nAcross the world\, we have witnessed an upsurge in hate speech\, bigotry and racist rhetoric on social media and other forms of communication. In the words of the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)\, Miguel Ángel Moratinos: “Stigmatization and vilification targeting certain communities based on their religion or belief is an affront to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” In line with its motto “Many Cultures\, One Humanity”\, UNAOC has worked on addressing these challenges by adopting a whole-of-society approach to foster intercultural and interfaith dialogue\, building bridges of understanding and countering stereotyping and polarization. \nPromoting the use of new media to foster social cohesion and sustainable peace has become crucial to tackle these threats and to deepen progress across the United Nations agenda\, UNAOC is working closely to that effect with a wide range of stakeholders such as media professionals\, policy makers\, the private sector\, civil society\, youth organizations\, women advocates\, educators\, religious and community leaders and more. In this context\, UNAOC has invited twenty young professionals and civil society leaders from Europe\, North America\, the Middle East and North Africa\, to share their recommendations and good practices for the meaningful use of new media and information technology in the global efforts for sustainable peace and social cohesion. All participants are UNAOC Fellows\, professionally involved in the fields of intercultural and interreligious dialogue\, media and peacebuilding. \n\nThe UNAOC Fellowship Programme and its Alumni Network \nThe Fellowship program is one of UNAOC’s flagship programs funded and supported by the Federal Republic of Germany. It’s an intercultural exchange programme between young professionals and civil society leaders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)\, and Europe and North America (EUNA). The Fellowship aims at deconstructing stereotypes and at fostering dialogue and understanding between youth of different faiths and cultures. During their trip\, UNAOC Fellows meet with a wide range of stakeholders. Together\, they explore opportunities for intercultural collaboration and exchange good practices on how to address current global challenges. \nIn 2020\, the Fellowship Programme took the form of a virtual capacity-building exchange programme focused on “Building peace in the age of new media”. All 2020 UNAOC Fellows were selected for their professional achievements in the fields of media and peace-building. After completing their Fellowship\, participants join the UNAOC Fellowship Alumni Network\, a global pool of 250+ young experts and civil society leaders from 53 countries. UNAOC Fellowship Alumni are professionally involved in a wide spectrum of activities. \n\nObjectives of the Event \nThe High Representative for the UNAOC will lead an interactive discussion with twenty UNAOC Fellowship Alumni from Europe\, North America\, the Middle East\, and North Africa\, on the role new media can play in building peace and fostering social cohesion. \nIn their exchange with the High Representative\, discussants will share good practices and ideas about how to harness the power of new media and information technology to support the global community and international organizations in their work towards building sustainable peace and fostering social cohesion. \nTogether they will touch upon underlying issues such as exploring the definition of peace; fighting misinformation through media literacy; promoting inclusive intercultural and interreligious dialogue; drawing the line between hate speech and freedom of speech; engaging in All-of-Society partnerships \nBasing their interventions on their own experience on the ground and engagement with UNAOC\, Fellowship Alumni will share recommendations on how to leverage new media as a tool for good in the prevention and mediation of conflicts and in achieving peace. \nParticipants to the latest edition of the Fellowship Programme will share the lessons learned during their virtual visits to Austria\, Canada\, Egypt\, France\, Germany\, Lebanon\, Morocco\, Qatar\, Spain\, Tunisia\, the United Arab Emirates and the United States on the role of new media in peacebuilding. \n\nVirtual Exhibition \nThe event platform will also feature an online exhibition hall with virtual booths where the audience will be able to learn more about UNAOC\, its #forSafeWorship campaign\, 2020 UNAOC Fellows’ media projects\, and other UNAOC programmes and activities. \n\n\n\nSpeakers \nH.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos\nHigh Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations \nH.E. Mr. Günter Sautter\nAmbassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations \nMr. Al Mustapha Sguenfle\nJournalist for the Moroccan News Agency \nMs. Alba Sabaté-Gauxachs\nProfessor of Journalism and Global Communication Management at the Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations\, Ramon Llull University \nMr. Ali Ghaith\nMedia and Communications Specialist for CARE \nMs. Amal El Jabali \nInclusive and Outreach Education Assistant at UNICEF \nMs. Anne Parsons\nVisual Communications Manager at Kiron Open Higher Education \nMr. David Fischer \nMedia Coordinator for Human Rights Watch \nMs. Elizabeth Arif-Fear\nFounder of “Voice of Salam” \nMr. Jacopo Ottaviani\nChief Data Officer at Code for Africa \nMr. Josh Cass\nFounding member of the Forum for Religion and International Affairs \nMs. Kawtar Amrani\nProduct Policy Manager – Trust and Safety for TikTok \nMs. Kholoud Al Ajarma\nAnthropologist and Refugee Rights’ Advocate \nMs. Najwa Ben Wheba\nSocial Media Journalist for Al Jazeera Arabic \nMs. Orla Murphy\nSpeechwriter to the President of the 75th session of the General Assembly \nMr. Peter Mosaad\nCo-Founder of Robabikia \nMs. Radwa Sakr\nAdministrative Assistant and Consultant to the Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation \nMs. Samiha Tadjine\nAcademic Advisor for the Advanced Science and Creativity Association \nMr. Tim Mortimer\nProgramme Manager at The Faith & Belief Forum \nMs. Veronika Verner\nCommunication Specialist for the Council of Europe \nMr. Walid Alnabahin\nFounder of the Media Show initiative \nMr. Yehuda Silverman\nFaculty Diversity Postdoctoral Fellow at Ursuline College URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/unaoc-fellowship-alumni-event-building-peace-and-fostering-social-cohesion-in-the-age-of-new-media/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20201207T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20201207T170000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20201205T190448Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201205T191313Z UID:28927-1607335200-1607360400@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Global Pledge for Action Webinar: Gender equality in the context of COVID-19 DESCRIPTION:as part of the series of six sessions on implementing the Global Pledge for Action by Religious Actors and Faith-Based Organizations to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic in Collaboration with the United Nations \nCo-facilitated by the UN Alliance of Civilizations\, UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect\, and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights\n\nThe UN Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC)\, the Office on Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect (OSAPG) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) held a virtual consultation with religious leaders and actors on 28 May 2020. The consultation was organized in response to the 22 April call by the UN Secretary-General to religious actors to contribute to wider efforts against the pandemic and its consequences. The meeting brought together religious leaders and actors as well as faith-based organizations to discuss possible areas of action and collaboration with the United Nations in the common fight against COVID-19 and its socio-economic impacts. This consultation resulted in the Global Pledge for Action\, which includes a declaration by religious leaders and actors with assurances and commitments in response to COVID-19\, and a mapping of ongoing activities and possible areas of collaboration with the United Nations. \nThe first webinar\, entitled “Gender equality in the context of COVID-19”\, will be held via Cisco Webex on Monday\, 7 December 2020 at 10:00-11:30 EDT/16:00-17:30 CET. \nFor the opening panel discussion\, we are delighted to have confirmations from Ahmed Shaheed (UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief)\, Nahla Haidar (member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women)\, Samuel Jayakumar (South Asia Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief) and Ghida Anani (founder and director of ABAAD – Resource Centre for Gender Equality). Ibrahim Salama (Chief of OHCHR Human Rights Treaties Branch) will facilitate the inter-active discussion and peer-to-peer learning. \nIn the second part of this webinar on 7 December\, all participants are kindly invited to present good practices and lessons learnt\, and identify specific action needed to promote gender equality in the context of COVID-19. Please feel free to raise any questions\, challenges and opportunities as well as to explore options for follow-up and further collaboration. \nParticipants need to have experience working in the field of combating COVID-19 and its impacts on society. If interested\, please send an email with the designated person’s name\, contact details and institutional affiliation to mwiener@ohchr.org with copy to anajimenez@unops.org and cruciani@un.org and you will receive the link to join the webinars following the registration. \nLearn more about the Global Pledge for Action URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/global-pledge-for-action-webinar-gender-equality-in-the-context-of-covid-19/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20201204T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20201204T130000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20200805T065318Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200805T160937Z UID:28196-1607076000-1607086800@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival: 2020 Awards Ceremony DESCRIPTION:The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration will hold the annual Awards Ceremony of their joint initiative\, the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival. The virtual event will feature short films produced by young filmmakers from across the globe on the pressing issues of migration\, diversity\, social inclusion\, the prevention of xenophobia\, the future of our world\, and interreligious dialogue. \nEvery year\, PLURAL+ gives young people around the world the opportunity to express their vision and their creativity through multimedia production. To learn more\, visit pluralplus.unaoc.org. URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/plural-youth-video-festival-2020-awards-ceremony/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:Film Festival,UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20201005 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20201105 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20201005T140743Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201021T145402Z UID:28394-1601856000-1604534399@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:2020 UNAOC Fellowship Programme DESCRIPTION:“Building Peace in the Age of New Media”\nA Virtual Edition of the UNAOC Fellowship Programme\n\n\nIn its online configuration\, the 2020 UNAOC Fellowship Programme will take the form of a virtual engagement programme consolidated over 18 days and preceded by an introduction phase of two weeks. The theme is “Building peace in the age of new media” and 20 Fellows from Europe\, North America and the MENA region have been selected for their experience in the fields of media and peacebuilding. \nFrom 5 to 16 October\, 2020 UNAOC Fellows will be introduced to three online modules on intercultural and interreligious dialogue\, media and peacebuilding\, in line with the 2020 theme “Building peace in the age of new media”. Developed by UNAOC and trainers\, each module will introduce Fellows to global trends\, key concepts and good practices in the above-mentioned fields\, with a focus on the different contexts across Europe\, North America\, the Middle East and North Africa. \nFrom 19 to 28 October\, each cohort will then engage separately in online conversations with relevant actors from six countries. For each country\, Fellows will engage in a series of 60-minute online discussions with (a) government and official representatives\, (b) religious and community leaders\, (c) journalists and media professionals\, (d) civil society organizations and representatives of grassroots initiatives. The topics of these exchanges will revolve around intercultural and interreligious dialogue\, as well as the 2020 theme “Building peace in the age of new media”. Cohorts will debrief regularly\, both separately and jointly. When feasible\, participants will also engage in virtual activities that will introduce them to the cultural diversity of the destination countries. \nFrom 29 October to 4 November\, Fellows will engage in webinars and online workshops focusing on (a) interreligious and intercultural dialogue and (b) on “Building peace in the age of new media” and through various pedagogical methods. Each section will offer a webinar developed in collaboration with KAICIID and four online workshops – two workshops will engage cohorts separately and two will engage them together. During these workshops\, Fellows will strengthen their competencies in the fields of intercultural and interreligious dialogue\, media\, and peacebuilding\, and collaborate to develop material and recommendations on ways to use media and information technology to support the global community and international organizations in their work towards sustainable peace and conflict prevention. \n\n\n\nAgenda \n\n 5-16 October: Introduction \n\n 19-28 October: Virtual exposure \n\n 29 October – 3 November: Capacity building activities \n\n 29-30 October: Intercultural and interreligious dialogue \n\n 2-3 November: Building peace in the age of new media \n\n 11 November: Conclusion \n\n\nBios: 2020 EUNA Fellows \nBios: 2020 MENA Fellows URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/2020-unaoc-fellowship-programme/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20200929T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20200929T163000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20200923T173906Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200925T211937Z UID:28311-1601391600-1601397000@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Racism\, Xenophobia and Discrimination: The Tearing of Our Societies DESCRIPTION:An Interactive webinar on the margins of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly \n\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has torn across the world\, affected all segments of the population indiscriminately regardless of race\, religion\, ethnicity\, or gender\, and continues to have far-reaching health and economic consequences. But for many\, the impact extends beyond medical and financial concerns. The pandemic has exposed social and political fractures within communities\, with discriminatory responses to fear\, disproportionately affecting communities on the basis of their real or perceived national origin\, skin color\, or religion. Several political parties have latched into the COVID-19 crisis to advance anti-immigrant\, white supremacist\, anti-Semitic and xenophobic conspiracy theories that demonize minorities on the sheer basis of their religion\, belief\, or ethnicity. \nOutbreaks create fear\, and fear is a crucial ingredient for racism\, xenophobia\, and discrimination to thrive. This phenomenon manifests differently in different contexts and populations. Yet\, there is a pattern in discriminatory acts: the target is generally the “other\,” i.e.\, the migrant\, someone belonging to a religious or ethnic minority\, etc. These behavior patterns\, not uncommon before the pandemic\, often lead to the fragmentation of society. Racism and discrimination have detrimental effects not only on the safety and human dignity of those who are targeted but also on development\, peace\, and social cohesion. The United Nations Secretary-General has warned of the repercussions of these discriminatory manifestations urging for an inclusive\, equitable\, and universal response in addressing the pandemic. \nThe position of the United Nations on racism and all its manifestations is crystal clear: this scourge violates the Charter of the United Nations and debases the core values upon which it was founded. The prohibition of racial discrimination is enshrined in all core international human rights instruments. It places obligations on States and tasks them with eradicating discrimination in public and private spheres. Therefore\, it is imperative to promote tolerance\, inclusion\, and respect for diversity and stand up against racism\, xenophobia\, hate speech\, and all forms of discrimination. The United Nations Secretary-General has made this a priority through launching initiatives such as the UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites\, the UN Guidance Note on Addressing and Countering COVID-19 related Hate Speech3 \, which builds on the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech4. \nFraming the discussion: \nCOVID-19 is attacking societies at their core. The pandemic has devastated many lives and upended livelihoods. But we should not let it destroy our core humanistic values. Allowing the pandemic to tear apart the fabric of our societies would be one of the most severe upheavals of COVID-19. Inclusion of and dialogue with communities and marginalized groups helps in rebuilding trust and enhancing social cohesion. In this context\, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is organizing a webinar to explore ways to scale-up a whole-of-society approach to prevent and counter the scourge of all forms of discrimination\, xenophobia\, and racism. \nFormat: \nThe panel will be convened in the format of an interactive discussion with speakers representing relevant UN entities\, human rights experts\, and other stakeholders\, including the media. Speakers will give brief introductions (three minutes)\, and the moderator will conduct a tour-de-table.\n \n\n\n\n\nParticipants:\nLeading the Conversation: \n H.E. Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos\nUnder-Secretary-General and High Representative for UNAOC \nPanelists: \n Ms. Pramila Patten\n@USGSRSGPatten\nSpecial Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (OSRSG-SVC)\, Acting Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide (UN-OSAPG) @UN_GP_RtoP \n Dr. Ahmed Shaheed \n@ahmedshaheed\nSpecial Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief \n Mr. Jason Isaacson\nChief Policy and Political Affairs Officer\, American Jewish Committee @AJCGlobal \n Ms. Nayeli Chavez-Geller\n@nayelichavezg\nNew York Correspondent\, Primer Impacto\, Univisión \n Ms. Alex Walden \nGlobal Head of Human Rights\, Google \n Mr. George Salama (tbc)\nHead of Public Policy\, Government\, and Philanthropy – MENA Region\, Pakistan\, and Afghanistan\, Twitter URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/racism-xenophobia-and-discrimination-the-tearing-of-our-societies/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20200929T114500 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20200929T131500 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20200923T171651Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200926T163342Z UID:28299-1601379900-1601385300@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:An Intergenerational Conversation: The Future They Want DESCRIPTION:An Interactive webinar on the margins of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly \nThe current youth generation is acknowledged as the largest in history with 1.85 billion young women and men 10 to 24 years of age in the world\, 90% of whom live in developing countries and one in four affected by violence or armed conflict. Africa and the Arab region have a wealth of young people who account for two thirds of the Arab region’s population and 65% of the African continent. \nIt would be stating the obvious to say that young women and men are critical agents for social change\, economic growth and development. They actively contribute to the resilience of their communities and represent an important pool of talent\, ideas\, energy and passion. Young people are a key asset which can leverage unparalleled multiplier effects with their ability to mobilize their peers and implement innovative solutions to address challenges. \nAt the same time\, young people continue to suffer disproportionately from conflict and poverty and have been traditionally facing systemic challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated those challenges for most young women and men. Millions lost their jobs and hundreds of thousands remain without education due to partial closures of educational institutions. Failure to address those challenges leads to alienating young people and eroding their trust in the political establishments. Such environment provides an open space for extremist groups to exploit youth’s anger and despair to fan the flames of hatred and radicalization. Extremists and radical groups are taking advantage of the proliferation of digital platforms to double down on social media spreading hatred and offering youth a twisted sense of purpose based on lies. \nYet\, during the pandemic\, young people had also been in the front lines volunteering and providing support to their communities. They found ways to engage\, demand change and fight for peace\, inclusion and justice. It is\, therefore\, essential to recognize young people at the center of our recovery efforts and as we chart the re-building of peaceful\, resilient and inclusive societies. \nOn 27 April 2020\, the UN Security Council marked the 5th Anniversary of the adoption of the groundbreaking resolution 2250 (2015) by holding an open debate to take stock of the progress made in the previous five years and identify actions that the Security Council could take to ensure the meaningful participation of the youth in peace and security efforts. During the open debate\, the UN Secretary-General presented the key findings of the first report focused on the youth\, peace and security agenda mandated by UNSCR 2419 (2018). In his statement\, the Secretary-General noted that notwithstanding the progress achieved\, the Youth\, Peace and Security agenda still faces formidable challenges. Participation opportunities remain inadequate\, particularly in the decision-making processes. He called to action on youth\, peace and security agenda and to address these challenges guided by the findings of the Independent Progress Study on Youth Peace and Security. \nIn July 2020\, the Security Council adopted resolution 2535(2020)\, which in its first operational paragraph “calls on all relevant actors\, to consider ways to increase the inclusive representation of youth for the prevention and resolution of conflict\, as well as in peacebuilding\, including when negotiating and implementing peace agreements\, and to ensure the full\, effective and meaningful participation of youth\, recognizing that their marginalization is detrimental to building sustainable peace”. \nIn February 2019\, the UN Security Council welcomed Africa’s initiative of the “Silencing the Guns” and called for international support and cooperation to achieve peace in Africa. In order to achieve (STG) agenda and article 17 of the African Youth Charter\, the AU Youth Envoy launched a continental platform for conversation among young people to exchange views on the challenges and solutions towards to achieve a peaceful and prosperous Africa. \nFraming the Conversation: \nYouth is one of the five pillars of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) together with education\, migration\, media and the role of women as mediators and peacemakers in conflicts with cultural and religious settings. Through education\, capacity building\, training and many other opportunities for innovation and creativity\, UNAOC empowers young women and men and youth-led civil society globally and recognize them as powerful agents for social change. Over the years\, UNAOC has developed programming that recognizes young people as essential partners in fostering mutual understanding between peoples of different cultures and religions\, highlighting the will of the majority to reject violent extremism and embrace diversity. Youth-led organizations that foster peaceful and inclusive societies have been supported since 2008 through the Youth Solidarity Fund (YSF). Seed funding and technical support are given to projects\, led by and focused on young people\, that demonstrate innovative and effective approaches to intercultural or interfaith dialogue. Financial support for recent editions has been provided by the Government of Finland. An independent evaluation report was produced in 2018\, of ten youth-led organizations supported by YSF in 2016 and 2017\, which includes best practices and lessons for similar youth-focused donor programmes. \nIn line with the theme chosen to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and in the spirit of keeping the UN75 dialogues going\, this interactive conversation between UNAOC young alumni and senior officials will present an opportunity to further engage young people and amplify their voices around the importance of youth engagement in the peace and security agenda. \nObjective: \nThrough an interactive\, intergenerational discussion\, the panel will identify key challenges that youth are currently facing as a result of the pandemic and will make recommendations to strengthen their engagement and amplify their voices as the world gears-up for recovering from the pandemic and re-building a better world. \nFormat: \nThe virtual event will take place on 29 September\, 11:45AM – 1:15PM (EDT) in the form of an interactive conversation between UNAOC youth alumni. \n\n\n\n\nParticipants:\n\nLeading the conversation: \n Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos\nHigh Representative\, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) \n\nPanelists: \n Mr. Vladimir Voronkov\nUnder-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism\, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) \n Ms. Diene Keita\nDeputy Executive Director for Programme\, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Assistant-Secretary-General \n Amb. Sima Sami Bahous\nPermanent Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Nations \n Ms. Corinne Momal-Vanian\nExecutive Director\, Kofi Annan Foundation \n\nSpecial Guest\n Ms. Aya Chebbi\nYouth Envoy\, African Union \n\nUNAOC youth alumni panelists \n Ms. Sif Heide-Ottosen\nFellowship Programme 2019 EUNA\, Denmark \n Mr. Tomas Horvath\nFellowship Programme 2017 EUNA\, Slovak Republic \n Ms. Ahlem Nasraoui\nIntercultural Innovation Award 2017\, Tunisia \n Ms. Magdalen Amony\nIntercultural Innovation Award 2019\, Uganda \n Ms. Theresa Saade\nIntercultural Innovation Award 2014\, Lebanon \n Mr. Syed Ali Abbas\nIntercultural Innovation Award 2017\, Pakistan \n Ms. Louise Kanza\nPLURAL+ Youth Video Festival 2017\, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa \n Ms. Sivatharsini Raveendran\nYouth Solidarity Fund 2019-2020\, Sri Lanka \n Mr. Mohammed Ghanem\nYoung Peacebuilders 3rd edition\, Egypt \n Ms. Farah El Alami\nYoung Peacebuilders 3rd edition\, Jordan \n Ms. Afaf Lamkoutar\nYoung Peacebuilders 3rd edition\, Morocco URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/an-intergenerational-conversation-the-future-they-want/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20200929T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20200929T190000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20200908T133610Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200929T212119Z UID:28243-1601370000-1601406000@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:UNAOC high-level Group of Friends meeting\, followed by 2 interactive panel discussions DESCRIPTION:Annual High-Level Meeting of the UNAOC Group of Friends\n“Shaping a Better World: Building Cohesive and Inclusive Societies in a Challenging COVID-19 Environment” \nOn 14 July 2020\, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) turned fifteen. The Alliance of Civilizations was created as the special initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General\, Mr. Kofi Annan\, who launched it in 2005 at a time when the United Nations recognized an urgent need to fill a policy gap in the governance of cultural and religious diversity\, which was threatened by growing divisions between communities and polarization of attitudes triggering the rise of violent extremism\, terrorist attacks and the exacerbation of frequent manifestations of intolerance\, xenophobia and racism. \nEven before the COVID-19 pandemic unraveled\, there was a strong push-back on cultural diversity\, religious pluralism and human rights. Rightly described as a global human crisis\, the pandemic threw under a magnifying lens critical issues that lingered on and metastasized over the years. It laid bare entrenched inequalities and fractures. Societies are divided across cultural\, ethnic and religious lines. We see it in the resurgence of Neo-Nazis organizations and anti-Semitism. Manifestations of hate speech\, racism\, xenophobia\, and all forms of discrimination against vulnerable communities continue\, leading to a vicious circle of extreme violence and terrorist attacks. Youth and women were further marginalized depriving communities of significant potential sources of resilience. \nCoincidentally as we mark the 15th anniversary of UNAOC\, the international community also celebrates this year the United Nations at 75. It is worth recalling that the existing multilateral governance structures emerged from a devastating global war and the world-wide depression and a pandemic that preceded it. Only events of such global consequence could generate the solidarity\, resolve and vision necessary to create those structures. \nEvents as such remind us of our common fragility and our interconnected fate. If a neighbor\, family member\, friend\, or country is not safe\, none of us is safe. History taught us that our well-being and safety are linked to what happens to our neighbor. There is no alternative to standing together in unity and solidarity in cohesive and equitable societies. Fulfilling Goal 16 “Promote just\, peaceful and inclusive societies” of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is more imperative now than ever before. It is the raison d’être of UNAOC. \nThe current dark moment in the history of humanity also presents a rare opportunity to emerge from this pandemic closer delivering as one. After all\, sustaining peaceful\, inclusive and just societies requires an integrated and coherent approach through strong collaboration across the different sectors in any society. \nIn this context\, the overarching theme of the opening plenary session of the annual high-Level meeting of the UNAOC Group of Friends “Shaping a Better World: Building Cohesive and Inclusive Societies in a Challenging COVID-19 Environment” will serve as an occasion to mark the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and take stock of what has been accomplished. It will be also an opportunity to present to the Group of Friends\, which has grown to 124 member states of the United Nations\, along with 27 international inter-governmental organizations and 1 non-member state\, the progress made by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations since September 2019 across the different pillars. The High Representative will also present the new initiatives launched in the areas of prevention and mediation\, as well as the new actions taken to address challenges posed by the global pandemic of the coronavirus in 2020. \nThe opening plenary of the meeting will provide the Group of Friends with the space to express their views regarding these underlying questions: What future do we want for our societies\, and how do we get there? What can the UNAOC Group of Friends do to support UNAOC in its endeavors? \nThe opening segment will start at 09:00AM (EDT) and conclude by 11:30AM (EDT). It will be followed by 2 interactive webinars\, each for 90 minutes\, focusing on: 1) “An Intergenerational Conversation: The Future They Want”\, and 2) “Racism\, Xenophobia and Discrimination: The Tearing of Our Societies”. The concept note and format of the webinars will be shared in due course.\n \n\n \nTentative Programme \n\n09:00AM-09:40AM Opening segment \n H.E. Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos\, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations\, chairs the meeting\, welcomes participants and delivers remarks and presentation \n Remarks by H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres\, Secretary-General of the United Nations (video message) \n Remarks by H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkır\, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (video message) \n Remarks by Spain and Turkey \n Video on commemorating the 15th Anniversary of UNAOC \n\n 09:40AM-11:25AM Plenary segment \n Statements by Member States\, Observers and International Organizations (per the list of speakers; interventions are limited to 3 minutes) \n\n 11:25AM-11:30AM Closing segment \n Concluding remarks by H.E. Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos\, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations \n\n 11:30AM-11:45AM Intermission 1 \n\n 11:45AM-01:15PM Webinar 1: “An Intergenerational Conversation: The Future They Want” \n Panel discussion among experts\, civil society and senior United Nations officials\, moderated by UNAOC (Read more about Webinar 1) \n\n 01:15PM-03:00PM Intermission 2 \n\n 03:00PM-04:30PM Webinar 2 “Racism\, Xenophobia and Discrimination: The Tearing of Our Societies” \n Panel discussion among experts\, civil society and senior United Nations officials\, moderated by UNAOC (Read more about Webinar 2) \n\n\n\n\n\nConcept Notes and Programmes (please wait for the documents to load)\nPlenaryWebinar 1Webinar 2\nPlenary Session: High-level Group of Friends Meeting\nDownload (PDF\, 380KB) \n\n\n\nWebinar 1: “An Intergenerational Conversation: The Future They Want”\nDownload (PDF\, 361KB) \n\n\nWebinar 2 “Racism\, Xenophobia and Discrimination: The Tearing of Our Societies”\nDownload (PDF\, 361KB) URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/group-of-friends-2020/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Group of Friends Meeting,UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20200918T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20200918T124500 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20200917T151549Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200917T234242Z UID:28274-1600423200-1600433100@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:High-Level Meeting Preventing Violent Extremism through Sport Values DESCRIPTION:Within the framework of the United Nations Global Programme on the Security of Major Sporting Events\, and Promotion of Sport and Its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism \n \nThe United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) was mandated by the General Assembly to enhance coordination and coherence across the UN System’s counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism work to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Office coordinates and implements technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives to support Member States’ efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism (PCVE) conductive to terrorism\, including through leveraging sport and its values as a tool to prevent violent extremism. Sports have historically played a significant role in the dissemination of positive values throughout the world and across civilization and cultures\, especially for the youth\, and is a powerful vector for the development of efforts aimed at preventing and countering violent-extremism and radicalization\, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls\, and facilitating integration at large. \nWith this vision in mind and within the framework of the “United Nations Global Programme on the Security of Major Sporting Events\, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism”\, UNOCT is convening a two-hour High-Level Meeting on the Prevention of Violent Extremism through Sports\, in partnership with the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)\, the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)\, and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS). The event will precede the launch of a series of initiatives which include\, inter alia\, the development of a guide for policymakers\, a training handbook\, a global campaign and a grant-awarding mechanism for local civil society organizations (CSOs) working on sports-based prevention of violent extremism (PVE).\nThe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Security Council resolution 2419 (2018) on Youth\, Peace and Security recognizes the “growing contribution of sport and culture to the realization of development and peace in the promotion of tolerance and respect as well as the contributions sport and culture make to the empowerment of youth and women\, individuals and communities as well as to health\, education and social inclusion objectives”. More recently the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2535 (2020) calling on United Nations entities to improve capacity-building by integrating the Youth\, Peace and Security agenda into their technical assistance plans. \nThe virtual high-level meeting will feature discussions between senior United Nations Officials\, Member States and international organizations representatives\, policymakers\, and sports personalities committed to the fight against violent extremism. The event will be followed by a technical level International Expert Group Meeting where representatives from governments\, international and regional organizations\, sport bodies\, academia and CSOs will share experiences and discuss actionable good practices of sports-based interventions aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism that can inspire the inclusion and further acknowledgment of sports within national and regional action (PCVE) action plans. URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/high-level-meeting-preventing-violent-extremism-through-sport-values/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20200626T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20200626T113000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20200624T193650Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200624T194844Z UID:27981-1593165600-1593171000@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:PLURAL+ Youth Media Makers Against Racism: a Virtual Watch Party featuring PLURAL+ Winners DESCRIPTION:Join the PLURAL+ Watch Party Here \nJoin us for a virtual “watch party” featuring short movies made by young filmmakers who stand up against racism. All featured films are winners of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival\, a joint initiative of UNAOC and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). \nFeatured films:\nExit Right\nBy Rupert Holler (Austria)\n2015 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: A man on the bus verbally abuses a black passenger. The story takes an unexpected turn and conveys a strong message using a keen sense of humor.\n Click here to watch the video \nInspire\nBy Awais Ali and Sheroze Khan (United Kingdom)\n2015 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: A conversation on the positive impact of cultural diversity and immigration\, challenging audiences to counter discrimination in their own communities.\n Click here to watch the video \nA Letter to My Unborn Daughter\nBy DaeQuan Collier (United States)\n2016 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: An expecting father writes a letter to his daughter\, encouraging African American women to embrace who they are.\n Click here to watch the video \nTranslate into Power\nBy Andreia Friaças and António Castelo (Portugal)\n2018 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: Three migrant women recite a poem in its original language\, Portuguese\, sharing one message of inclusion and resilience.\n Click here to watch the video \nIt’s Not Me\, It’s You\nBy Zavia Forrest and Ella Cooper Creative production (Canada)\n2017 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: This short film explores the injustices of systemic racism through art\, rejecting western beauty standards\, and empowering women of color to do the same.\n Click here to watch the video \nBlue\nBy Breech Harani (Philippines)\n2015 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: In this short animation\, the main character leaves home to move to a new community and discovers that no matter who you are or where you come from\, you are not alone.\n Click here to watch the video \nThe Cops Don’t Know\nBy Sam Chegini (Iran/United Kingdom)\n2016 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: This music video explores the history of police brutality against the African American community and reflects on the injustice people still face today.\n Click here to watch the video \n\n\nSeeking Refuge\nBy Eva Eileen Limones Macdonald (Spain)\n2019 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: A young refugee adapts to life in a new country with her mother and sister\, while navigating friendships across language barriers and the challenges of her mother finding work.\n Click here to watch the video \nColour\nBy Taryn Birkett (Canada)\n2016 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: Born in Ontario\, Canada\, to Bajan and Scottish heritage\, Taryn reflects on her experience living in a predominantly white neighborhood and takes pride in her diverse background.\n Click here to watch the video \nThe True Impact\nBy Babar Ali and Sarah Randolph (Nepal)\n2017 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: This video invites the viewer to reflect on the fundamental impact that discrimination and violence have on individuals and humanity.\n Click here to watch the video \nColor Makes the World Better\nBy Carlo Villanueva Ruiz\, Claudia Ruiz\, Moremil Tornero\, Silvana Villanueva Ruiz\, and Luciano Villanueva Ruiz (Mexico)\n2018 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: Through art class and color theory\, students explore the concepts of social inclusion\, its impact on people’s lives\, and how diversity enriches our global society with a mosaic of ideas\, choices\, beliefs\, languages\, roots\, and cultures.\n Click here to watch the video \nSee Actions\, Not Colors\nBy Joana Maria Sousa (Portugal)\n2017 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: Shot from the perspective of our four-legged furry friends\, this video reminds us to judge people by their actions\, not by their skin color.\n Click here to watch the video \nWe are human\nBy Sophie Kanza\, Louise Kanza\, and Stuart Williams (South Africa)\n2017 PLURAL+ winner\nSynopsis: African immigrant youth living in South Africa recite common racist slurs and stereotypes associated with their different nationalities. The video ends with a message calling for African unity.\n Click here to watch the video \n\nJoin the PLURAL+ Watch Party Here URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/plural-youth-media-makers-against-racism-a-virtual-watch-party/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20200620T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20200620T133000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20200619T142252Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200619T142252Z UID:27925-1592656200-1592659800@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Virtual Refugee Conference DESCRIPTION:The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is organizing an interactive discussion with refugee students on the issue of hate speech against migrants and refugees in traditional and new media and ways to combat it. This event is part of the interactive online conference “Amplify Now”\, organized by Kiron – Open Higher Education for Refugees\, which is bringing together refugees\, non-governmental organizations\, academics\, and the private sector in a unique global gathering to foster collaborative and results-oriented exchanges around the theme\, “Elevating new learning and strengthening communities”. \nThe UNAOC session will introduce participants to UNAOC’s #SpreadNoHate initiative and include small-group discussions allowing participants to benefit from one another’s experiences and perspectives and leave the session with new ideas on ways to combat hate speech. Alumni of the UNAOC Fellowship programme and current UNAOC Fellows will facilitate the small-group discussions with refugee students. \nFor more information and to register\, visit https://virtualrefugeeconference.com/program/spread-no-hate-UNAOC URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/virtual-refugee-conference/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20200521T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20200521T100000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20200518T143518Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200520T195641Z UID:27764-1590049800-1590055200@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development: Perspectives from the global UNAOC community amid the current health crisis DESCRIPTION:21 May marks the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (A/RES/57/249)\, which celebrates our world’s many cultures and the critical role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development. On this special occasion\, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) – the leading UN entity in the field of intercultural dialogue – invited some of its programmes partners and friends working in the field of cultural diversity across the globe to participate in a virtual discussion. They will share thoughts and experiences about the current health crisis\, what it has taught them\, and how they envisage our world post-COVID 19\, especially in the context of bridging the gap between various cultures to foster respect\, mutual understanding\, as well as sustainable peace\, stability\, and development. This event is part of the #OneHumanity campaign of UNAOC\, through which it has collected stories of solidarity from its global community to inspire the world to stay united amid the crisis. Learn more by visiting solidarity.unaoc.org and following the hashtag #OneHumanity. \nClick here to join the virtual discussion live \n \nClick here to join the virtual discussion live URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/world-day-for-cultural-diversity-for-dialogue-and-development-virtual-event/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200304 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200306 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20200217T161113Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200305T144902Z UID:27380-1583280000-1583452799@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:LA Dialogue on Creating Cities of Belonging DESCRIPTION:As dynamic laboratories of ideas and practical solutions to problems affecting co-existence\, cities can and must lead the way in promoting inclusion\, co-existence\, and belonging. The LA Dialogue explores those ideas. \n\nCo-organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the City of Los Angeles\, and LAMEDINA International Dialogue Institute \n\nThe LA Dialogue on Creating Cities of Belonging aims to foster reciprocal knowledge\, understanding\, and exchange in a safe and stimulating intellectual environment. \nThe neutral venue of the LA Dialogue\, as well as the private\, off-the-record nature of the discussions\, are designed to help participants develop a deeper comprehension of each other’s challenges and look for collective creative solutions to these challenges. \nUnder the chairmanship of LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and UNAOC High Representative Miguel Moratinos\, Mayors from around the world will interact with select cultural\, religious\, political\, and business personalities to discuss issues of pluralism and diversity. \nThis unique dialogue structure can thus connect local actors – municipal leaders as well as global players – the United Nations\, and civil society. It will take place in Los Angeles at the heart of a global search for a peaceful\, inclusive\, and multicultural coexistence. \nThe LA Dialogue will take place over 1.5 days in Los Angeles. \nDownload the LA Dialogue Flyer \n\nFlyerSpeakersConcept Note\n\nDownload (PDF\, 214KB) URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/la-dialogue-on-creating-cities-of-belonging/ LOCATION:Los Angeles\, Los Angeles\, United States CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.unaoc.org/wp-content/uploads/LA_dialogue_digicard_web.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20200214T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20200214T130000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20200121T202221Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200214T150641Z UID:27181-1581674400-1581685200@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:Interfaith Harmony Week Event: "United Nations Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites: A global communications campaign" DESCRIPTION:In the context of the annual World Interfaith Harmony Week established by UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/65/5\, UNAOC will organize an event entitled United Nations Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites: A global communications campaign to foster dialogue\, mutual respect and understanding on Friday\, 14 February from 10:00 to 1:00 in Conference Room 11. \nThe event will contribute to the implementation of the UN Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites and will feed into the global communications campaign recommended by the Plan. \nThe UN Plan of Action also recommends that 2020 World Interfaith Harmony Week be dedicated to the protection of religious sites and stresses the importance of interfaith dialogue\, which can translate into enhanced respect for religious sites of different faiths and the recognition of their universality as symbols of our shared humanity\, history\, social fabric and traditions. \nThe event will consist of a panel discussion followed by an interactive dialogue that will look into the role that global youth and the global faith community can play to create connections to religious sites that can help celebrate their universality\, underscore the role of individuals in protecting religious sites\, and contribute to fostering dialogue\, mutual respect and understanding. Building on the principles of the Plan\, namely\, respect\, responsibility\, diversity\, dialogue\, solidarity\, standing together and staying together\, the event will help identify issues and recommendations that will feed into the global communications campaign. URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/interfaith-harmony-week-event/ LOCATION:UNHQ Conference Room 11 CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20191210 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20191211 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20191016T145948Z LAST-MODIFIED:20191204T184837Z UID:26482-1575936000-1576022399@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:2019 Intercultural Innovation Award DESCRIPTION:The 2019 Intercultural Innovation Award Ceremony\, a celebration of the most innovative grassroots projects that encourage intercultural dialogue around the world\, will be held in Madrid\, Spain. \nFollowing a competitive selection process with over 1\,200 applications received from 128 countries\, ten finalists have been announced by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and BMW Group for the 2019 Intercultural Innovation Award (IIA). Click here to read more about this year’s IIA finalists. \nThe final rankings will be revealed during the Intercultural Innovation Award Ceremony on December 10\, 2019. \nThe ceremony will be chaired by H.E Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos\, United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations\, and Bill McAndrews\, Vice President Market Communications\, BMW Group. \nLearn more about the 2019 Intercultural Innovation Award in Madrid URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/iiaward2019/ LOCATION:Madrid\, Spain CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20191204T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20191204T110000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20191119T213213Z LAST-MODIFIED:20191202T161609Z UID:26595-1575450000-1575457200@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:UNAOC Fellowship Alumni Event: "Engaging women in peacebuilding\, conflict mediation and the prevention of violent extremism" DESCRIPTION:Organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations\n Violent extremism and conflict are transnational threats to global stability which can virtually affect every human being\, without distinction of nationality\, ethnicity\, religion\, ideology or gender. Across the UN system\, there has been growing awareness that addressing these challenges requires a multi-dimensional and a whole-of-society approach focused on prevention. However\, the importance of adopting gender-sensitive frameworks is often overlooked\, despite some undeniable progress at global policy level through the advancement of the UN agenda on Women\, Peace and Security. Nevertheless\, today\, women are still almost totally excluded from formal peace processes\, while gender stereotypes and grievances are frequently manipulated and exploited by violent groups to enhance recruitment. In that context\, UNAOC and the Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN are inviting sixteen young professionals and civil society leaders from Europe\, North America\, the Middle East\, and North Africa\, to share their recommendations on the meaningful inclusion of women in mediation efforts and in the prevention of conflict and violent extremism. Following an interactive format\, they will exchange good practices to harness the power of media\, youth engagement\, civil society and religious dialogue to support women in becoming champions of peace. All participants are UNAOC Fellows. \nInterested in attending? Click here to RSVP. \n\n\n \nView Speakers’ Bios \nDownload the Concept Note Here \nRSVP to the UNAOC Fellowship Alumni Event \n\n\n\nConcept NoteSpeakers \nConcept Note \nDownload (PDF\, 104KB) \n\n\n \nSpeakers’ Bios \nDownload (PDF\, 534KB) URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/unaoc-fellowship-alumni-event-2019/ LOCATION:Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations\, 871 United Nations Plaza\, New York\, NY\, 10017\, United States CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20191113T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20191113T130000 DTSTAMP:20260423T224507 CREATED:20190919T160706Z LAST-MODIFIED:20191022T213530Z UID:26358-1573639200-1573650000@www.unaoc.org SUMMARY:PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival Awards Ceremony DESCRIPTION:The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration will hold the annual Awards Ceremony of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival. Several young filmmakers from across the globe will be celebrated and will also get a chance to present their films on the pressing issues of migration\, diversity\, social inclusion\, and the prevention of xenophobia. URL:https://www.unaoc.org/event/plural-youth-video-festival-awards-ceremony/ LOCATION:UNHQ ECOSOC Chamber\, United Nations Headquarters\, New York\, NY\, 10017\, United States CATEGORIES:UNAOC Events END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR