United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

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
2021-07-07 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
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

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The 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.
In 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.
Addressing 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.”
With 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.
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UNAOC Virtual Watch Party for the Safeguard of Religious Sites
2021-07-13 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Halifax) | Online
UNAOC Virtual Watch Party for the Safeguard of Religious Sites
Thursday, 13 July, 2021 | 11:00 AM EDT | Online

Join 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/.
Join the Watch Party Live Here

Featured Videos

Religious Sites in Egypt by Sandra Gobran (Egypt)
Synopsis: In this short video, Sandra tells us about temples and tombs in Egypt and the importance of ensuring that all religious sites are safe.
https://forsafeworship.org/religious-sites-in-egypt/
A Dialogue between “la Bomba” and Catholic Rituals in Puerto Rico by Father Rocendo Herrera (Puerto Rico)
Synopsis: 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”.
https://forsafeworship.org/a-dialogue-between-la-bomba-and-catholic-rituals-in-puerto-rico/
A Dialogue between “la Bomba” and Catholic Rituals in Puerto Rico by Afaf Lamkoutar (Morocco)
Synopsis: In this short video, UNAOC Young Peacebuilder Afaf speaks about the many cultures, religions, and sacred sites in her hometown of Rabat, Morocco.
https://forsafeworship.org/a-mosaic-of-religions-in-rabat-morocco/
A Chapel with Special Powers by Ismael Lopez (Spain)
Synopsis: 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.
https://forsafeworship.org/a-chapel-with-special-powers/
Exploring Religious Sites in the Philippines by Theodore Boborol (Philippines)
Synopsis: 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.
https://forsafeworship.org/exploring-religious-sites-in-the-philippines-director-theodore-boborol/

The Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial by Daniel del Valle (Spain)
Synopsis: 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.
https://forsafeworship.org/the-monastery-of-san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial/
The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle in South Texas, USA by Lydia Pesina (USA)
Synopsis: 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!
https://forsafeworship.org/basilica-lady-of-sanjuan-delvalle/
Religious Diversity in Indonesia by Steve Leonard Harison (Indonesia)
Synopsis: In this short video, Steve talks to us about religious diversity in Indonesia and the importance of protecting religious sites worldwide.
https://forsafeworship.org/religious-diversity-in-indonesia/
The Coronado Cross in Kansas by Gentry (USA)
Synopsis: 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.
https://forsafeworship.org/the-coronado-cross-in-kansas/
A Religious Site with Interfaith Influences in Bangladesh by Tushar Kanti Baidya (Bangladesh)
Synopsis: 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.
https://forsafeworship.org/a-religious-site-with-interfaith-influences-in-bangladesh/

iTAGe: Talking Across Generations on the State of PVE in South Asia
2021-07-20 08:00 - 10:30 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
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Organized 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.
The 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.

'Youth confronting online hate speech and exploring the notion of citizenship in a digital age'
2021-10-01 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
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.
Register here: https://venue.events-nextechar.com/landing?show=UNESCO

Seville Dialogue on Creating Cities of Resilience
2021-10-06 11:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | FIBES Palace of Congresses and Expositions, Seville, Spain
Venue: FIBES Palace of Congresses and Expositions, Seville, Spain
Date: 6 October 2021 (First Urban Forum of Spain and Third Global Forum of Local Governments 5 – 7 October)
Co-Chairs:
His Excellency Miguel Angel Moratinos, High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
The Honorable Juan Espadas, Mayor of Seville
Background:
Historically, 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.
Shortly 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.
The Seville Dialogue on Creating Cities of Resilience
Cities 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.
Despite 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.
Nonetheless, 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.
Meanwhile, 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.
Hence, 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.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
The 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.
UNAOC 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
Local Governments, which will focus on “Cities and Territories in the Social and Economic Recuperation”, was a natural partnering decision.
City of Seville’s First Urban Forum of Spain and Third Global Forum of Local Governments
The 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.
Seville
Given 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.
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Intercultural Innovation Award Ceremony | #iiaward2021
2021-11-18 18:00 (Asia/Dubai) | German Pavilion, EXPO 2020, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The 2021 Intercultural Innovation Award Ceremony, a celebration of innovative grassroots projects that encourage intercultural dialogue around the world, will take place on 18 November, 6:00 pm Dubai time (GMT+4), as part of the themed week on tolerance and inclusivity at this year’s Expo 2020 in Dubai.
Following a competitive selection process with over 1,100 applications received from 120 countries, ten finalists will be jointly announced by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the BMW Group.
The event will be livestreamed from the German Pavilion in the Expo.
Watch #iiaward2021 Live

Join us live: interculturalinnovation.org/iiaward2021

Follow the social media conversation: #iiaward2021

A Tribute to the Memory of H.E. President Jorge Sampaio
2021-12-06 13:30 - 15:30 (America/Halifax) | UNHQ Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, 10017, United States
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the Mission of Portugal to the United Nations are co-organizing a tribute event to honor the memory of H.E. President Sampaio (1939-2021), who served as the first High Representative for UNAOC from 2007 to 2012.

Faith and Diplomacy: Strategic Reflections on Religiously Inspired Global Efforts Towards Building Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies
2021-12-10 10:00 - 13:30 (America/Halifax) | Church Center for the UN, 777 United Nations Plaza, 10th Floor, New York, NY, 10017, United States
Co-organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and Religious for Peace
The role of religious leaders and faith-based organizations (FBOs) as key players in their respective countries and in the regional and international levels, as well as harnessing the unifying potential of faith, are key issues at the intersection between faith and diplomacy.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) – the leading United Nations platform for intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation – and Religions for Peace – the only international multi-religious organization with affiliated and legally registered multi-religious leadership platforms in every continent-, have been working on the nexus between faith and diplomacy over the years with the ultimate goal of building and strengthening dialogue, social cohesion and mutual understanding in societies around the world.
In 2019, Religions for Peace hosted its 10th World Assembly. Established in 1970, the systematic efforts of fifty years of the existence of this “UN of Religious Institutions”, have been dedicated towards advocating and supporting multi-religious efforts designed at enabling a positive peace. The latter defined as the whole of society and of governments’ efforts beyond ensuring the absence of war, towards securing lasting human dignity for each and all.
The 10th World Assembly was also the beginning of a ‘trinity’ of efforts with Ring for Peace, a Foundation founded in 2018, with the aim to foster the peaceful coexistence between people and religions to strengthen international understanding and cooperation, and to promote the dialogue between civil society and governments, within Germany and Europe. The partnership between Religions for Peace and Ring for Peace was enabled, in all three cases, thanks to the generous support by the German Federal Foreign Office, thus underlining the strategic vision of Europe’s largest and most powerful economic and political nation, in the importance of multi-religious engagement, globally. The UNAOC High Representative provided an opening keynote at this Assembly in which he announced that the UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites – elaborated by UNAOC at the request of the UN Secretary-General in the aftermath of the attacks on mosques in Christchurch (New Zealand)- was nearly completed. He was also actively engaged in all discussions and meeting with faith leaders and diplomats throughout.
In 2020, at the height of global lockdowns due to Covid-19, Religions for Peace and Ring for Peace ensured a global Assembly, as a follow up, focusing on a critical constituency which had hitherto not received its due of global attention and recognition: women of faith. Accordingly, in this Assembly, which was fully virtual, managed to convene religious leaders (male and female), together with diplomats, politicians, and academics, to highlight and assess the unique roles and contributions of faith, to women’s leadership and all diplomacy efforts focused on diverse aspects of peace making, peace building and sustainability of human rights and development efforts. Approximately 1,600 people tuned in and joined the virtual discussions and presentations from around the world, daily, for 3 days. The UNAOC Chief of Staff presented a Keynote at this event and was consulted in the framing of the Conference. In 2020 UNAOC became one of the three co-Chairs of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force for Religion and Sustainable Development (UN-IATF), together with the UN Population Fund and the UN Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide.
Building on the outcomes – and indeed recommendations – of the above two assemblies, Religions for Peace and Ring for Peace were positively compelled to host the third in the trinity of global multi-stakeholder consultations, focusing on an intergenerational dialogue around the most pertinent of our challenges in the 21st century: humanitarianism, environmentalism, and the broader dynamics of peace and security. Accordingly, the International Conference of Religious Leaders on Faith and Diplomacy: A Generational Dialogue, was convened, as a hybrid modality, also in Lindau, Germany. A total of 150 participants were convened in person, with a total of 1700 participants (including virtually), wherein twenty-two percent were younger than 35, and women made up 45 percent of all.

2022 Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-based Organizations in International Affairs
2022-01-25 08:00 - 12:30 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
Mobilizing Moral Influence and Governance to End the Systemic Injustices of Racism, the legacy of Colonialism and Slavery

The 8th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-based Organizations in International Affairs, entitled Mobilizing Moral Influence and Governance to End the Systemic Injustices of Racism, the legacy of Colonialism and Slavery will be held virtually 8:00 – 12:30 EDT on Tuesday 25 January 2022.
This Symposium will focus on the urgent need to transform our world, exposing and redressing the systemic injustices of racism, the legacy of colonialism and slavery. As a common table bringing together different stakeholders invested in the issue, it will explore how the lingering historical injustices shape the social inequalities that have been exposed by crises of global proportions including Covid-19.
The Symposium also aims to contribute to healing and reconciling our world. It will identify solutions and concrete recommendations for how the United Nations, in partnership with religious bodies, faith-based groups and other stakeholders, can address racism and advance the building of just, peaceful and inclusive societies.
Racism and concomitant concerns of racial discrimination and xenophobia, colonialism, and slavery, have become highly topical. It is necessary to change the systems that allowed, ignored, or even encouraged abuses to occur.
Customary religious norms, beliefs and practices upholding universal principles of justice, compassion and respect for one another underpin the normative frameworks that the international community has agreed upon over time to address these pressing issues.

Agenda:

Opening Session
Panel 1. Deepen understanding of how pernicious and all-encompassing racism, and the legacy of colonialism and slavery remain today.
Panel 2. Showcase innovative experiences for positive change and encourage concrete actions for positive change throughout the international community.
Panel 3. Promote policy recommendations and practical steps to strengthen partnerships among diverse stakeholders, including faith-based organizations, the UN System, and non-governmental entities in different regions.

Organized by:
ACT Alliance, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church, Islamic Relief, Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue at Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Soka Gakkai International, United Religions Initiative, World Council of Churches
In partnership with:
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the UN Inter-agency Task Force on Religion and Development

The International Day of Human Fraternity
2022-02-04 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
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-facilitated 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, UAE that resulted in the signing of the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace & living Together”. It also invites all Member States to further promote a culture of peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity.
The International Day of Human Fraternity was celebrated for the first time on 4 February 2021 in a virtual event that was highly attended by member states, religious leaders, faith actors and civil society representatives. In his message on the occasion, the Secretary-General of the United Nations said “As we commemorate the International Day of Human Fraternity, let us commit to do more to promote cultural and religious tolerance, understanding and dialogue”
Celebrating human fraternity and the values it embodies such as mutual respect, diversity of cultures and religions, advancing intercultural and interreligious dialogue reminds us of the common values that we share as one humanity. This spirit is particularly needed at a time when many communities are divided across religious, ethnic and cultural lines. Growing religious hatred, stigma and manifestations of various forms of discrimination against vulnerable communities including minorities are an affront to human rights and UN values. Such vile acts risk undermining global efforts to recover and rebuild better in a post-pandemic era.
As such, state and relevant non-state actors including 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.
In this context, 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).
UNGA Res A/75/200
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N20/377/94/PDF/N2037794.pdf?OpenElement
Document of Human Fraternity
http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/travels/2019/outside/documents/papa-francesco_20190204_documento-fratellanza-umana.pdf
UNGA Res A/64/14
https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/64/14
UNGA Res A/69/312
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N15/209/20/PDF/N1520920.pdf?OpenElement

Leveraging interfaith dialogue for the prevention of hate speech and violent extremism: Reflections from the implementation of EDIN
2022-02-17 - 2022-02-18 | The Westin New York, 212 E 42nd Sreet, New York, NY, 10017, United States

Live showcase event: Digital Games for Peace Challenge | #GamesForPeace
2022-02-24 08:30 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | Virtual

ECOSOC Youth Forum Side Event: 'Increasing Investment in Flexible Funding for Youth-led Organizations'
2022-04-18 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
Co-organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and Justice Call
Register Here For Your Zoom Link

SPEAKERS
Anders Ankarlid, CEO and Founder, A Good Company
Diana Heredia, Program Officer, Multi Partner Trust Fund for Sustaining Peace in Colombia
Khaled Emam, Executive Director, Justice Call (Moderator)
Natalia Lozano, Director of the CAMY Fund, Seattle International Foundation
Sarra Messaoudi, Regional Coordinator, MENA Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security
Thande Tshabalala, Third Secretary, Permanent Mission of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations
Veronica Veloso, Senior Program officer for Grantmaking Operations, Frida Feminist Fund
Ziaullah Baloch, Head of Programs, Health and Rural Development (HARD) Balochistan

BACKGROUND
During the Covid-19 Pandemic many funders adopted flexible funding models to support youth-led organizations, allowing them to adapt to new circumstances resulting from the pandemic. The funds allowed young people to adjust their programming, decide priorities of focus, and gave greater freedom to them to use their funding on salaries, administrative costs, well-being services, and physical spaces. Feminist funders resourcing young women, girls and gender diverse youth were at the forefront of this work. At the same time, these funds are underfunded with a substantial mismatch in interest in the funds and their capacity to resource applicants. Funding for women’s rights and feminist organizations represents less than 1% of ODA (let alone funding for youth-led feminist organisations), while most youth-led organizations operate on less than $5,000 per year.
As we transition into the third year of the pandemic we need to explore models to better invest in flexible funding to ensure the sustainable and predictable resourcing for young people. Pooled funds, including those operating with public-private partnerships, represent an important tool to both increase the total investment and the predictability of financing. They also spread risk amongst donors associated with flexible funding models.
In this session we will first hear about the impact of flexible funding models on the work of young people in sustainable peace and development. We will then transition into a discussion identifying models to better invest in flexible funding, identifying recommendations for bilateral, multilateral and private sector funders.

News Generation Against Hate: Empowering La Courneuve youth to create alternative narratives and champion diversity in the media
2022-05-04 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | Conference Room 8
Watch Live Here
BACKGROUND
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is committed to engaging with municipalities, which are often on the frontlines of challenges linked to intercultural and interreligious tensions that may erupt within diverse communities. Implemented in collaboration with the municipality of La Courneuve (Paris area, France), the project “News Generation Against Hate” equipped young people with the tools to combat misinformation, hate speech, and stereotypes by promoting intercultural and interreligious understanding in the media. Since 2021, the project has engaged forty youth from La Courneuve between the ages of 16 and 24 to help them deconstruct stereotypes rooted in a lack of exposure to diverse cultures and religions. Through workshops and capacity-building activities, participants acquired storytelling techniques and competencies to promote mutual understanding and respect for the other. Moreover, through the production of media content such as videos and radio podcasts, participants learned to recognize and address misinformation and discrimination in the media. Led by a group of experienced facilitators, they produced alternative narratives and multimedia content covering local and national issues related to multiculturalism, becoming active actors and partners of social change.
OVERVIEW
Having finalized their capacity-building training and having produced their projects on alternative narratives, the youth participants will be traveling to New York, where they will present their achievements at the United Nations Headquarters on Wednesday, 4 May.
Through this component of the ‘News Generation Against Hate’ project, UNAOC seeks to empower the youth participants from the Municipality of La Courneuve by providing them with a platform for dialogue previously inaccessible to them. UNAOC will directly contribute to amplifying youth representation and thus allow them to have a voice in decisions that affect them, in line with the United Nations Secretary-General 2021 Report, ‘Our Common Agenda’.
Moreover, this will also constitute a unique opportunity for UNAOC to showcase the potential of working with local youth in collaboration with municipalities – an approach that is replicable across the board, in line with UNAOC’s wider strategy of working with cities and local governments to mobilize action at the community level.

Presentation of the “Peace4Culture Global Call” Action Plan
2022-05-05 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Halifax) | Conference Room 11
Organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations

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The “Peace4Culture Global Call” Action Plan underpins the interdependence of peaceful relations and the safeguarding of cultural and religious heritage. Culture defines and reflects identity and highlights the difference between people and communities. The vast majority of people on earth are members of a faith or spiritual community. And although each has their own traditions and convictions, they share together common values such as compassion, humility and respect for others regardless of their religion, race, culture or gender.
The “Peace4Culture Global Call” initiative equally highlights the universality of cultural religious heritage sites as symbols of our shared humanity. In this context, the United Nations Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, developed by UNAOC in 2019, emphasizes the sanctity and universality of religious sites which are symbols of our identity and shared humanity. It is noteworthy to recall the United Nations Security Council resolution 2347 of 2017, which stresses that “the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage, looting and smuggling of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, including by terrorist groups, and attempts to deny historical roots and cultural diversity can fuel and exacerbate conflicts and impede post-conflict national reconciliation, thus undermining the security and stability, governance and social, economic and cultural development of affected states”. The “Peace4Culture Global Call” emphasizes that strengthening intercultural and interreligious dialogue serves as a viable tool for advancing sustainable peace and stability. At the same time, sport and art are powerful vectors for promoting diversity, inclusivity and mutual respect. They are a universal language that break taboos, bridge barriers as well as inspire and connect.

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Meeting of the National Focal Points of the Global Programme on Sport and PVE
2022-05-10 - 2022-05-12 | Bangkok, Thailand
UNAOC, UNOCT, UNICRI, and ICSS will hold a National Focal Points (NFPs) Regional Forum for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand, within the framework of the Global Programme on Sport and PVE (10-12 May 2022). The Forum will bring together NFPs from all over the region, providing them with a platform to share lessons learned and best practices on the security of major sporting events, as well as on the use of sport to PVE, taking into account regional characteristics such a common legal framework, geographical features, drivers of violent extremism and threats. It will include working groups, experts’ presentations, and networking opportunities to discuss the security of major sporting events and the use of sport as a tool to PVE.

Briefing on Efforts on Combating Antisemitism
2022-06-15 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | UNHQ ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, 10017, United States

UNAOC Young Peacebuilders in MENA Symposium
2022-06-16 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | Rabat, Morocco
Guided by the principle that youth are key actors to achieve peace and prevent violent extremism, UNAOC develops
educational programming to enhance the ability of young people and their organizations to foster mutual respect,
understanding, and long-term positive relationships between peoples of different cultures and religions.
The UNAOC Young Peacebuilders is a peace education initiative that is designed to support young people in gaining skills that can enhance their positive role in issues of peace and security and in preventing violent conflict. It also brings visibility to the initiatives, actions, and projects initiated by young people toward peace and the promotion of diversity and dialogue. As such, it responds to recent international policy recommendations outlined in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419, and 2535 on Youth, Peace, and Security and the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism.
This peace education programme consists of four parts. A face-to-face workshop follows an online preparation and is led by field experts and trainers, who help the young peacebuilders to analyze conflicts, practice peacebuilding tools to build bridges between cultures and religions, and design peace projects, which will be implemented in each participant’s community upon returning home. The fourth and last phase is this final symposium, during which the young peacebuilders will share their experience, lessons learned, achievements, and recommendations with a broader audience of practitioners, policymakers, media, and the general public.
UNAOC intends to implement this programme in different regions of the world to grow and strengthen the global movement of young peacebuilders. Through this action, UNAOC is committing to support young people’s participation in peacebuilding with a growing coalition of partners. The first edition of Young Peacebuilders took place in West Africa, and the second and third editions in the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This 4th edition, also focusing on the MENA region, centered on 20 young women and men, between the ages of 18 to 25, and coming from all across the region.
Implemented with the generous support of the Agencia Extremeña de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AEXCID), UNAOC’s Young Peacebuilders programme is a powerful example of a partnership that can strengthen the ground-breaking UN agenda on Youth, Peace and Security, which recognizes that “young people play an important and positive role in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security.”

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Intergenerational Dialogue on the Role of Youth in Preventing Violent Extremism through Sport
2022-06-23 14:30 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris) | Rabat, Morocco
BACKGROUND
The current youth generation is acknowledged as the largest in history, with the global agenda increasingly focused on young people as key drivers for meaningful and impactful social movements. Their commitment and diverse course of actions has greatly contributed to promoting peacebuilding, as well as identifying, and addressing the triggers of violent extremism. Moreover, young people are the most capable of mobilizing their peers and becoming principal stakeholders of societies that are increasingly free from stereotypes, discrimination, and extremism. The United Nations acknowledges the value of the youth in peacebuilding through the development of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 2250 (2015), 2419 (2018), and 2535 (2020) on Youth, Peace, and Security that called upon the United Nations (UN) entities and the Member States to improve capacity-building by integrating the Youth, Peace and Security agenda into their technical assistance plans.
Through unique engagements such as sports, the youth have led and sustained peacebuilding and development conversations across societies. Sports have historically played a significant role in fostering positive values throughout the world and across civilizations and cultures, thus making it a powerful vector for the development of efforts aimed at promoting peace and preventing and countering violent extremism. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 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.”
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INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE
It is in this context that the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is organizing a Regional Youth Forum in Rabat, Morocco within the framework of the “Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events and the Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism” (“Global Programme”), which is led by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with UNAOC, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS).
The Youth Forum will build on the power of sport to promote increased youth participation in national and regional PVE strategies and reaffirm the role of youth in fostering sustainable peace and development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. On the last day of the Youth Forum, the Global Programme will organize an intergenerational dialogue between the 16 participating youth leaders from the MENA region and a number of regional decision/policymakers.
MENA is home to one of the youngest populations in the world. More than 28% of its population are aged 15 to 29 years old. Representing over 108 million young people, the region has the largest number of young people transitioning to adulthood in its history. At the same time, youth are among the most vulnerable groups in the face of pressing challenges such as migration, radicalization, and violent extremism. Despite this, young people of the region have shown remarkable resilience and continued to mobilize action to prevent violent extremism, including through sport-based activities. It is therefore imperative that their unique and innovative perspectives are considered in policy development and decision-making processes across MENA countries.

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Intercultural Innovation Award Capacity-Building Workshop
2022-06-26 - 2022-07-01 | Munich, Germany
The first capacity-building workshop for the ten recipients of the current edition of the Intercultural Innovation Award (IIA) will take place in Munich, Germany from June 26th to July 1st, 2022.
Hosted by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the BMW Group, and with the support of Accenture, the workshop will focus on the topics of effective storytelling and the use of social media, as well as sustainable organizational development and upscaling.
The workshop will be attended by the ten global grassroots initiatives which were recognized in November 2021 during an event held at the German Pavilion of the Dubai EXPO 2020, within the margins of the thematic week on Tolerance and Inclusivity.
IIA recipients from Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Switzerland will participate in a variety of training sessions at the BMW Group Headquarters and the Accenture Innovation Center.

Global Dialogue: Towards the World of One Humanity
2022-10-10 - 2022-10-11 | Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
Human Intelligence (HI) and Artificial intelligence (AI) hand-in-hand for a better world
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in collaboration with Fundación Onuart will organize this first global dialogue on the relationship between Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence for a better management of public affairs and for paving the way for new initiatives of the private sector in favor of a positive global development driven by innovation and inclusiveness. Artificial Intelligence, in the service of humanity, can drive diversity, respect and progress for all through innovation. Moving forward under a strong public-private partnership is essential to this end. The meeting will serve to deepen, manifest, and visualize this partnership.
Register Here

The International Day of Human Fraternity (Virtual Event)
2023-02-06 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
A virtual event commemorating the International Day of Human Fraternity.

Equal in Music: The West-Eastern Divan Ensemble
2023-02-23 13:15 - 14:30 (America/Halifax) | Trusteeship Council Chamber, UNHQ New York, Conference Building, UNHQ, New York, NY, United States
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UNDGC) are honored to introduce to the UN community the West-Eastern Divan Ensemble. Click here to register for this event.
The eight-member ensemble led by the orchestra’s concertmaster Michael Barenboim draws upon players of the world-famous West-Eastern Divan Orchestra founded in 1999 by renowned Israeli pianist/conductor Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian scholar/author Edward Said. The United Nations Secretary-General designated the orchestra in 2016 as United Nations Global Advocate for Cultural Understanding.
The encounter at the UNHQ will provide an opportunity to introduce the idea behind the orchestra which is composed of young musicians from Israel, Palestine and other Arab countries. For over twenty-four years, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra continues to demonstrate that when people listen to each other, both musically and in all other ways, great results can be achieved.
Click here to register for this event
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'Strengthening Young Women Peacebuilders’ Capacity in Complex Crises' Workshop
2023-03-20 - 2023-03-23 | Tbilisi, Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
UN Women, in partnership with UNAOC, UNFPA, and UNICEF, will hold a four-day workshop for selected participants of “Strengthening Young Women Peacebuilders’ Capacity in Complex Crises” from 20th to 23rd March in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Following a competitive process, 28 young women aged 18-30 years old, who are working in the fields of peacebuilding, human rights, women’s rights, youth rights, or related issues, were selected to participate in this comprehensive capacity-building initiative.
The in-person workshops aim to support young women who are leading civil society organizations in fragile or conflict and post-conflict affected countries by boosting their capacities in fundraising and project management, among others. The programme also seeks create a space for peer-exchange and networking among young women peacebuilders.

'Sport for One Humanity' Capacity-Building Workshops
2023-03-20 - 2023-03-24 | Madrid, Spain
The ten recipients of the ‘Sport for One Humanity’ initiative will travel to Madrid, Spain to attend the face-to-face workshops from March 20th to March 24, which will address various topics designed to increase their effectiveness in their work.
The ‘Sport for One Humanity’ initiative includes a comprehensive capacity development program for selected civil society organizations working in the field of Sport for Development and Peace.
The training curriculum consists of various modules around three core topic areas: 1) Project design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation; 2) Communications and advocacy; and 3) Resource mobilization, partnerships, and fundraising.
This comprehensive program is delivered through online and face-to-face workshops facilitated by experts, and continued support through customized mentoring sessions, which will also be delivered online.
To learn more about ‘Sport for One Humanity, click here.

UNAOC Young Peacebuilders Handbook Launch (Dominican Republic)
2023-03-23 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Halifax) | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
After four successful editions of the Young Peacebuilders programme, UNAOC has taken stock of the pedagogical materials and methodologies developed and used throughout the programme, consolidating consolidate them into a training handbook for young peace educators.
This handbook aims to support young people’s participation in peacebuilding and strengthen their training and leadership capacity to consolidate peace in their communities. It provides young people with practical guidance and ready-to-use resources that can help improve the effectiveness and impact of their initiatives at the community level.

Prayer for Peace
2023-04-14 12:30 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | UN Headquarters, New York, United States
Join us at the Prayer for Peace moment, which will be held on Friday, 14 April 2023 at 12:30 p.m. at the Knotted Gun sculpture, Visitors’ Plaza, United Nations Headquarters.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, will be joined by faith leaders to deliver a critical message about peace at a time of so much conflict and suffering around the world and for a moment of silence.
The Prayer for Peace moment will take place at a special time on the spiritual calendar, when Christians are celebrating Easter, Jews are marking Passover, and Muslims are observing the holy month of Ramadan. Sikhs are also celebrating Vaisakhi on 14 April.
The moment is an opportunity for individuals of diverse faiths and beliefs to reflect on the importance of maintaining and building long-lasting peace, to remember the most vulnerable, and to embrace compassion, solidarity and mutual respect – values at the heart of the UN Charter.
Members of the UN family, including staff, delegates and the press corps, are welcome to attend. The event will also be broadcast on UN Web TV.
📺 Watch on UN Web TV:
https://media.un.org/en/asset/k13/k139n09di5

Y2023 ECOSOC Youth Forum Thematic Session – Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
2023-04-25 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | United Nations Headquarters, New York, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, 10017, United States
Amplifying the Voices of Youth for Sustainable Urban Future: Leading the Way to Recovery
UNAOC, in partnership with UN-Habitat, UNEP, UNODC, UNHCR, IOM, ICMYO and MGCY, are co-organizing a thematic session that will focus on the role of youth in recovery processes for their cities and communities, youth inclusion in local governance, and their participation in the sustainable urbanization amidst the global multidimensional crises. It will put to the fore diverse perspectives and the voices of young women and men coming from vulnerable settings, including those living in informal settlements, refugees, and migrants.

Building an Alliance of Civilizations in an Age of Disruptions
2023-05-17 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Halifax) | Washington, DC, USA
Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for UNAOC, will be the special guest of a conversation on building alliances in an age of disruption, organized by the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and moderated by CSIS Senior Vice President Daniel F. Runde.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) was set up in 2005 under the sponsorship of Spain and Turkey. Through its efforts it seeks to build-cross cultural trust through projects on youth, media, education, migration, and most recently women as peace mediators. The program is administered in New York by High Representative Miguel Ángel Moratinos alongside a Secretariat and is also supported by a Group of Friends including 129 UN member states, 1 non-member state, and 29 international organizations.
Religion and spirituality play an instrumental role in conflict prevention and resolution, yet religion is also often described as the “missing dimension of statecraft”. The Alliance can be seen as a response to Samuel P. Huntington’s 1993 article Clash of Civilizations, in which he argues that people’s religious and cultural identities would be the primary source of conflict in the post-Cold War era. Religion, The Missing Dimension of Statecraft, edited by CSIS alumn Dr. Douglas Johnston, also posits that although religion plays a central role in many conflicts a vast majority of Western diplomats and policymakers tend to ignore or misunderstand its positive potential. The UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) represents, in part, a response to Huntington’s thesis as it works to “improve understanding and cooperative relations” across diverse communities and to “counter the forces that fuel polarization and extremism.”
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Intercultural Innovation Hub 2023 Ceremony
2023-05-24 | Berlin, Germany, Berlin, Germany
