United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

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

Watch live via UN Web TV
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.”
Download the agenda

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

Young Peacebuilders Workshop in Merida, Spain
2023-07-03 - 2023-07-07 | Mérida, Spain, Mérida, Spain
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), in collaboration with the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY), and with the generous support of AEXCID, will host a capacity-building workshop for nineteen participants from Latin America and the Caribbean in Mérida, Spain. Aiming to enable young civil society leaders to design and implement impactful peace interventions, the training consists of interactive sessions on conflict analysis, innovative peacebuilding approaches, and fostering harmony and mutual respect, among others.

Intercultural Innovation Hub Capacity-building Workshop
2023-10-15 - 2023-10-20 | Munich, Germany
The first capacity-building workshop for the ten recipients of the current edition of the Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH) will take place in Munich, Germany from October 15th to October 20th, 2022.
Hosted by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the BMW Group, and with the support of Accenture, the workshop will focus on strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations that are promoting inclusive societies.
The workshop will be attended by the ten global grassroots initiatives which were recognized in May 2023 during an event held in Berlin, Germany. IIH recipients from Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, Jordan, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, and South Africa will participate in a variety of training sessions at the BMW Group Headquarters and the Accenture offices.

The 2nd Global Dialogue: "Towards the World of #OneHumanity – The Role of Artificial Intelligence"
2023-10-20 | United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
Organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in collaboration with the Onuart Foundation
Click here to download the agenda.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been one of the most transformative innovations of our time – with the potential to redefine industries and reshape societies. As AI continues to advance exponentially, its profound impact on #OneHumanity raises important questions about ethics, governance, equity, and sustainable development. Moreover, in our interconnected multiethnic, multicultural and multireligious world, it is crucial to address the surge in racism and xenophobia that persist in many parts of the world , and examine the impact of AI on exacerbating them or counteracting and mitigating them.
To address these crucial and timely themes, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), in collaboration with the Onuart Foundation, is convening the 2nd edition of the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence entitled “Towards the World of One Humanity”.
The dialogues aim to explore rapid breakthroughs in AI-powered technologies and explore how these innovations can be leveraged to advance global governance, foster mutual respect, and promote inclusive development. On the other side of the spectrum, the event will examine the impact of Artificial Intelligence on global peace and security, as well as its potential to spread disinformation, restrict freedoms, reinforce biases and structural racism, or infringe on basic human rights.
AI-enabled technologies, and particularly generative AI models, have become even more relevant over the past year. The emergence of Chat GPT in late 2022, for example, continues to fuel a global debate. While generative technology has ushered in a new era of creativity and productivity, it has also sparked contentious debate on the propagation of fake news, amplifying stereotypes, perpetuating bias, violating privacy, utilizing copyrighted content for training generative AI models, or promoting unequal representation in media narratives, to name a few.
At this important juncture in history, innovation and inclusion are crucial, and Artificial Intelligence in the service of humanity has the potential to empower diversity, respect and progress for all. However, establishing guardrails and adapting a governance framework are necessary and urgent to steer this technology towards building a better world. Moreover, a strong partnership between the public and private sectors is essential to drive the whole transformation process in harmony. This Global Dialogue will serve to deepen, amplify, and strengthen this collaboration.
Indeed, as AI continues to open infinite possibilities to aid Human Intelligence, it is of utmost importance for a multi-stakeholder, multilateral dialogue to address the potential dangers and misuse of these technologies, while simultaneously harnessing AI’s potential for positive impact. It is clear that AI will have an impact on every area of our lives including the three pillars of the United Nations namely, peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. That’s why last July, the United Nations Security Council took up the issue and convened for the first time a debate on AI.
The United Nations have taken steps to set new international rules and establish new global agencies. For example, the 2021 recommendations on Ethics of Artificial Intelligence agreed through the UNESCO; the AI for Good summits convened by the ITU to ensure that AI serves the common good. Furthermore, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has announced that he will convene a multi-stakeholder High-Level Advisory Board for Artificial Intelligence that will report back on options for global AI governance by the end of this year.
It is also in this context that UNAOC and Onuart Foundation are bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise from around the world, to debate and exchange views on the way forward for responsible, ethical, and equitable AI development rooted in transparency and accountability.
The event will take place on 20 October, 2023 , 09:15-13:00 , 14:30 – 18:00 in room XX (Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations room).

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La Courneuve Dialogue: Building Intercultural Cities
2023-11-13 - 2023-11-14 | La Courneuve, France, La Courneuve, France
On November 13 and 14, the city of La Courneuve in France will host the 3rd iteration of UNAOC’s “City Dialogue” series, following successful editions in Los Angeles (2020) and Seville (2021). Focusing on the overarching theme of “Building Intercultural Cities”, the La Courneuve Dialogue will gather over 100 participants from over 10 countries at the Diplomatic Archives of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with the aim of promoting intercultural exchanges and advancing inclusion within diverse communities.

Download the Agenda in English
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UN-AUSC Youth Forum: the Role of Young People in the 13th African Games
2023-11-21 - 2023-11-22 | Accra, Ghana, Accra, Ghana
In the context of the “UN Global Programme on the Security of Major Sporting Events (MSE), and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism”, UNAOC is organizing the “UN-AUSC Youth Forum: the Role of Young People in the 13th African Games”, taking place in Accra, Ghana, on 21- 22 November 2023, building on the power of major sporting events to promote increased youth participation in national and regional PVE strategies and assert the value of the youth in fostering sustainable peace and development in Africa.
Click here to download the agenda of the Opening Session

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. Youth’s diverse and unique actions have greatly contributed to promoting peace and identifying and addressing the triggers of violent extremism. Moreover, young people are the most able to mobilize their peers and become principal stakeholders of societies 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 Member States to improve capacity-building by integrating the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda into their technical assistance plans. Also, the African Youth Charter recognizes that “youth are partners, assets and prerequisite for sustainable peace and prosperity of Africa with a unique contribution to make to the present and future development.”
Through unique engagement, such as sports, the youth have led and sustained peacebuilding and development conversations across societies. Sports have historically played a significant role in disseminating positive values worldwide and across civilizations and cultures, thus making it a powerful vector for developing efforts to promote peace and prevent and counter 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.” Through the African Union Sport Council (AUSC), established in 2016, the AU promotes sport in Africa with a focus on youth development, gender equality, and regional integration, supporting programmes that use sports to promote the African Union Agenda 2063 aspirations of the “Africa We Want.”
YOUTH PERSPECTIVE OF THE UN GLOBAL SPORTS PROGRAMME
As such, the UN Global Programme on the Security of Major Sporting Events and Promotion of Sport and Its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism (Global Sports Programme), led by the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and its partners, the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), was launched as a cross-cutting global initiative to help the Member States leverage the power of sports to strengthen social cohesion and build resilience to violent extremism, safeguard sports from extremist activities, and protect major sporting events against terrorist threats. A key element of the Programme’s workstream on PVE through sport has been to empower youth while ensuring that policymakers effectively consider their unique skills and perspectives on PVE through sport.
The Programme has organized youth consultations such as 1) the Online Youth Consultation on Preventing Violent Extremism through Sport (20-21 January 2021); 2) the MENA Youth Forum on Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) through Sport (21-23 June 2022) in Rabat, Morocco; 3) the Global Youth Forum on PVE through Sport in Fez, Morocco (21-23 November 2022); 4) the ASEAN-UN Regional Youth Forum on Preventing Violent Extremism through Sport in Bangkok, Thailand (8-9 December 2022) to produce policy recommendations on PVE-Through-Sport from a youth perspective, aiming to provide guidance and actionable steps for policymakers to effectively leverage the power of sport in preventing violent extremism while ensuring youth inclusion and evidence-based decision-making. These recommendations were highlighted on the occasion of the 8th review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy during the Programme’s side event dedicated to youth and the use of sport for PVE, at UNHQ, New York (23 June 2023). Such activities are essential since youth are often excluded from PVE-through-Sport programmes and policies, despite their significant contributions. The Programme’s initiatives aim to contribute to addressing this challenge.
Considerations for youth are integrated into all other activities and projects of the Programme’s PVE-related workstream. The Programme’s “Guide for Policymakers for The Use of Sport for the Prevention of Violent Extremism” and “Preventing Violent Extremism through Major Sporting Events – A Handbook for Organizers,” for example, actively advise on the role of youth in fostering sustainable peace and development. Major sporting events provide a platform that can contribute to the prevention of violent extremism (PVE). Thanks to their widespread appeal and ability to foster a sense of ownership and belonging within the hosting community, major sporting events are ideally suited to address its drivers. A holistic approach is required, which includes the meaningful involvement of young people.
PROPOSAL
The Global Sports Programme will organize a Youth Forum on the role of young people in the upcoming 13th Edition of the African Games (Accra, Ghana, set to commence in March 2024) in partnership with the AUSC, which oversees the coordination and organization of the African Games—building on the power of sport to promote increased youth participation in the organization of major sporting events. Other partners are the 13th African Games Local Organising Committee (LOC) which comprises key Ghanaian stakeholders, the Ghana National Peace Council which is responsible for implementing the National PVE Strategy, and the UN Country Team.
OBJECTIVES

Raise awareness of integrating youth in major sporting events, particularly from an African perspective.
Establish a dialogue between youth and decision-makers about the power of sports and major sporting events to prevent violent extremism, showcasing unique youth approaches, including those targeting the vulnerable youth population.
Encourage more investment and support towards youth-led sport-based PVE initiatives and increased youth participation in major sporting events.
Concrete guidelines on the greater inclusion of young people in PVE-based activities within the context of a major sporting event.

TIME AND PLACE
21-22 November 2023 (2 days) in Accra, Ghana
FORMAT

We count on the participation of approx. 20 African civil society leaders between 18 and 35 years old and involved in major sporting events, decision-making, and/or sport for PVE.
This Forum will feature ‘safe and brave spaces,’ working groups, presentations, etc.
The young people will have the opportunity to go into dialogue with the organizers of the upcoming 13th African Games, including the AUSC and the LOC, as well as other PVE-through-sport/sport for peace stakeholders, including civil society organizations and the UN.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Raised awareness of the role and significance of sport in PVE.
Inclusion of strategies for PVE interventions while organizing major sporting events and its integration into NAPs.
Compiled recommendations on integrating young people in organizing major sporting events and related sport-for-PVE initiatives.

SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS

Due to limited slots, participants will be subjected to a selection process that will consider the relevance of their application, their experience, the motivation and interest demonstrated, as well as their potential contribution to the discussions. To the extent possible, the selection committee will balance age, gender, and diversity of backgrounds (cultural, educational, professional) among selected participants.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Age: 18-35 years of age
Region: African Union Member States
Interest in themes: the applicant demonstrates some experience and knowledge (or a great interest in getting involved) in issues related to PVE (through sport), the organization of major sporting events, sport for development and peace, and/or meaningful youth engagement.
Future impact and follow-up: the applicant expresses a strong commitment to further engage on the topics and has the ability to consult with and reach a wider group of young people, audiences, or networks, including leading initiatives at the grassroots and community levels.
Experience and potential: experience in the development of policies and guidelines and advocacy in PVE.

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Young Peacebuilders Symposium (6th edition)
2023-11-28 - 2023-11-29 | Cordoba, Spain, Córdoba, Spain
UNAOC will hold the culminating symposium for the 6th edition of its Young Peacebuilders programme, focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, in Córdoba, Spain, from the 28th to the 29th of November.
The Young Peacebuilders programme 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 and extremism.
The symposium will feature the peacebuilding efforts of the participating young peacebuilders from Latin America and the Caribbean region, and will serve as a platform to bring visibility to the initiatives, actions, and projects initiated by young people to promote peace, respect for diversity, and mutual understanding. Policymakers, UN officials, representatives from civil society, the private sector, the media, and academia will interact with them and exchange ideas on the role of youth in peacebuilding.

The Role of Religious Communities in Upholding and Implementing the Genocide Convention
2023-11-28 10:00 - 11:45 (America/Halifax) | UNHQ ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, 10017, United States
Side Event to the 75th Anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment

Live via UN Web TV Concept Note Download the Agenda
Leading up to the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention), on 8 December 2023 at the UNHQ, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) are organizing a joint side-event, showcasing stories of religious individuals and communities that have been promoting, protecting, and implementing the Genocide Convention.
Speakers will share their stories and provide insights about how the legacy of the Convention can be enhanced to protect populations from genocide.
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2023 PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival Ceremony
2023-12-15 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | Trusteeship Council Chamber, UNHQ New York, Conference Building, UNHQ, New York, NY, United States
Click here to RSVP for the Ceremony
The 2023 edition of the PLURAL + 2023 Youth Video Festival Ceremony is slated to take place at the Trusteeship Council Chamber, United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ) in New York on Friday, December 15, 2023, from 4 pm to 6 pm.
PLURAL+, a joint initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), aims to amplify the global impact of young media makers who have created exceptional videos on themes such as migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia.
The ceremony will recognize and honor filmmakers selected for International Jury Distinctions across three age categories. Additionally, it will present three Special Recognitions for videos centered around the themes of “Combating Xenophobia and Discrimination,” “Sport for One Humanity,” and “Migrants’ Contributions to Societies
