The importance of education for global citizenship in the age of Covid-19
2020-06-12 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
Mr. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for UNAOC, will be participating in a virtual discussion entitled “The importance of education for global citizenship in the age of Covid-19”.
Watch the Discussion Live

Virtual Refugee Conference
2020-06-20 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is organizing an interactive discussion with refugee students on the issue of hate speech against migrants and refugees in traditional and new media and ways to combat it. This event is part of the interactive online conference “Amplify Now”, organized by Kiron – Open Higher Education for Refugees, which is bringing together refugees, non-governmental organizations, academics, and the private sector in a unique global gathering to foster collaborative and results-oriented exchanges around the theme, “Elevating new learning and strengthening communities”.
The UNAOC session will introduce participants to UNAOC’s #SpreadNoHate initiative and include small-group discussions allowing participants to benefit from one another’s experiences and perspectives and leave the session with new ideas on ways to combat hate speech. Alumni of the UNAOC Fellowship programme and current UNAOC Fellows will facilitate the small-group discussions with refugee students.
For more information and to register, visit https://virtualrefugeeconference.com/program/spread-no-hate-UNAOC

Deadline for Applications: Programme Management Senior Officer - Online trainer in intercultural dialogue
2020-06-22 08:00 - 23:55 (America/Halifax)

Deadline for Applications: Programme Management Senior Officer – Online trainer in media and peacebuilding
2020-06-22 08:00 - 23:55 (America/Halifax)

PLURAL+ Youth Media Makers Against Racism: a Virtual Watch Party featuring PLURAL+ Winners
2020-06-26 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Halifax) | Online
Join the PLURAL+ Watch Party Here
Join us for a virtual “watch party” featuring short movies made by young filmmakers who stand up against racism. All featured films are winners of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival, a joint initiative of UNAOC and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Featured films:
Exit Right
By Rupert Holler (Austria)
2015 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: A man on the bus verbally abuses a black passenger. The story takes an unexpected turn and conveys a strong message using a keen sense of humor.
Click here to watch the video
Inspire
By Awais Ali and Sheroze Khan (United Kingdom)
2015 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: A conversation on the positive impact of cultural diversity and immigration, challenging audiences to counter discrimination in their own communities.
Click here to watch the video
A Letter to My Unborn Daughter
By DaeQuan Collier (United States)
2016 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: An expecting father writes a letter to his daughter, encouraging African American women to embrace who they are.
Click here to watch the video
Translate into Power
By Andreia Friaças and António Castelo (Portugal)
2018 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: Three migrant women recite a poem in its original language, Portuguese, sharing one message of inclusion and resilience.
Click here to watch the video
It’s Not Me, It’s You
By Zavia Forrest and Ella Cooper Creative production (Canada)
2017 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: This short film explores the injustices of systemic racism through art, rejecting western beauty standards, and empowering women of color to do the same.
Click here to watch the video
Blue
By Breech Harani (Philippines)
2015 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: In this short animation, the main character leaves home to move to a new community and discovers that no matter who you are or where you come from, you are not alone.
Click here to watch the video
The Cops Don’t Know
By Sam Chegini (Iran/United Kingdom)
2016 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: This music video explores the history of police brutality against the African American community and reflects on the injustice people still face today.
Click here to watch the video

Seeking Refuge
By Eva Eileen Limones Macdonald (Spain)
2019 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: A young refugee adapts to life in a new country with her mother and sister, while navigating friendships across language barriers and the challenges of her mother finding work.
Click here to watch the video
Colour
By Taryn Birkett (Canada)
2016 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: Born in Ontario, Canada, to Bajan and Scottish heritage, Taryn reflects on her experience living in a predominantly white neighborhood and takes pride in her diverse background.
Click here to watch the video
The True Impact
By Babar Ali and Sarah Randolph (Nepal)
2017 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: This video invites the viewer to reflect on the fundamental impact that discrimination and violence have on individuals and humanity.
Click here to watch the video
Color Makes the World Better
By Carlo Villanueva Ruiz, Claudia Ruiz, Moremil Tornero, Silvana Villanueva Ruiz, and Luciano Villanueva Ruiz (Mexico)
2018 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: Through art class and color theory, students explore the concepts of social inclusion, its impact on people’s lives, and how diversity enriches our global society with a mosaic of ideas, choices, beliefs, languages, roots, and cultures.
Click here to watch the video
See Actions, Not Colors
By Joana Maria Sousa (Portugal)
2017 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: Shot from the perspective of our four-legged furry friends, this video reminds us to judge people by their actions, not by their skin color.
Click here to watch the video
We are human
By Sophie Kanza, Louise Kanza, and Stuart Williams (South Africa)
2017 PLURAL+ winner
Synopsis: African immigrant youth living in South Africa recite common racist slurs and stereotypes associated with their different nationalities. The video ends with a message calling for African unity.
Click here to watch the video

Join the PLURAL+ Watch Party Here

G20 Interfaith Forum Middle East Regional Meeting
2020-06-27 | Online
The G20 Interfaith Forum offers an annual platform where a network of religiously linked institutions and initiatives engage on global agendas (primarily and including the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs). The annual G20 Summits are a critical time and place where priority global issues are considered. The G20 process has evolved since it was established in 2008, with various platforms (ministerial meetings, engagement groups) that allow different sectors and communities to present ideas and recommendations to global leaders. Our goal is to contribute meaningful insight and recommendations that respond to and help shape the G20 and thus global policy agendas.

The Arab regional consultation represents an integral part of the preparations for the G20 Interfaith Forum. It has particular significance because of the high level of interaction between religious actors, Arab policy makers, and other experts in the Arab setting.

Learn More About the G20 Interfaith Forum

Deadline extended: PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival
2020-07-03 23:30 - 2020-07-04 01:00 (America/Halifax)
The deadline to apply for the 2020 edition of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival is Friday, 3 July 2020 Friday, 19 June 2020, at midnight EST. For more information and to submit a video, visit: https://pluralplus.unaoc.org/.

Deadline to Apply: Learning Management Specialist
2020-08-19 23:30 - 23:55 (America/Halifax)

Request for Quotations: Provision of written translation and simultaneous interpretation services
2020-08-24 23:00 - 23:59 (America/Halifax)

High-Level Meeting Preventing Violent Extremism through Sport Values
2020-09-18 10:00 - 12:45 (America/Halifax) | Online
Within the framework of the United Nations Global Programme on the Security of Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and Its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism

The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) was mandated by the General Assembly to enhance coordination and coherence across the UN System’s counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism work to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Office coordinates and implements technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives to support Member States’ efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism (PCVE) conductive to terrorism, including through leveraging sport and its values as a tool to prevent violent extremism. Sports have historically played a significant role in the dissemination of positive values throughout the world and across civilization and cultures, especially for the youth, and is a powerful vector for the development of efforts aimed at preventing and countering violent-extremism and radicalization, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and facilitating integration at large.
With this vision in mind and within the framework of the “United Nations Global Programme on the Security of Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism”, UNOCT is convening a two-hour High-Level Meeting on the Prevention of Violent Extremism through Sports, in partnership with the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS). The event will precede the launch of a series of initiatives which include, inter alia, the development of a guide for policymakers, a training handbook, a global campaign and a grant-awarding mechanism for local civil society organizations (CSOs) working on sports-based prevention of violent extremism (PVE).
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Security Council resolution 2419 (2018) on Youth, Peace and Security recognizes the “growing contribution of sport and culture to the realization of development and peace in the promotion of tolerance and respect as well as the contributions sport and culture make to the empowerment of youth and women, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives”. More recently the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2535 (2020) calling on United Nations entities to improve capacity-building by integrating the Youth, Peace and Security agenda into their technical assistance plans.
The virtual high-level meeting will feature discussions between senior United Nations Officials, Member States and international organizations representatives, policymakers, and sports personalities committed to the fight against violent extremism. The event will be followed by a technical level International Expert Group Meeting where representatives from governments, international and regional organizations, sport bodies, academia and CSOs will share experiences and discuss actionable good practices of sports-based interventions aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism that can inspire the inclusion and further acknowledgment of sports within national and regional action (PCVE) action plans.

UNAOC high-level Group of Friends meeting, followed by 2 interactive panel discussions
2020-09-29 09:00 - 19:00 (America/Halifax) | Online
Annual High-Level Meeting of the UNAOC Group of Friends
“Shaping a Better World: Building Cohesive and Inclusive Societies in a Challenging COVID-19 Environment”
On 14 July 2020, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) turned fifteen. The Alliance of Civilizations was created as the special initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, who launched it in 2005 at a time when the United Nations recognized an urgent need to fill a policy gap in the governance of cultural and religious diversity, which was threatened by growing divisions between communities and polarization of attitudes triggering the rise of violent extremism, terrorist attacks and the exacerbation of frequent manifestations of intolerance, xenophobia and racism.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic unraveled, there was a strong push-back on cultural diversity, religious pluralism and human rights. Rightly described as a global human crisis, the pandemic threw under a magnifying lens critical issues that lingered on and metastasized over the years. It laid bare entrenched inequalities and fractures. Societies are divided across cultural, ethnic and religious lines. We see it in the resurgence of Neo-Nazis organizations and anti-Semitism. Manifestations of hate speech, racism, xenophobia, and all forms of discrimination against vulnerable communities continue, leading to a vicious circle of extreme violence and terrorist attacks. Youth and women were further marginalized depriving communities of significant potential sources of resilience.
Coincidentally as we mark the 15th anniversary of UNAOC, the international community also celebrates this year the United Nations at 75. It is worth recalling that the existing multilateral governance structures emerged from a devastating global war and the world-wide depression and a pandemic that preceded it. Only events of such global consequence could generate the solidarity, resolve and vision necessary to create those structures.
Events as such remind us of our common fragility and our interconnected fate. If a neighbor, family member, friend, or country is not safe, none of us is safe. History taught us that our well-being and safety are linked to what happens to our neighbor. There is no alternative to standing together in unity and solidarity in cohesive and equitable societies. Fulfilling Goal 16 “Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies” of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is more imperative now than ever before. It is the raison d’être of UNAOC.
The current dark moment in the history of humanity also presents a rare opportunity to emerge from this pandemic closer delivering as one. After all, sustaining peaceful, inclusive and just societies requires an integrated and coherent approach through strong collaboration across the different sectors in any society.
In this context, the overarching theme of the opening plenary session of the annual high-Level meeting of the UNAOC Group of Friends “Shaping a Better World: Building Cohesive and Inclusive Societies in a Challenging COVID-19 Environment” will serve as an occasion to mark the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and take stock of what has been accomplished. It will be also an opportunity to present to the Group of Friends, which has grown to 124 member states of the United Nations, along with 27 international inter-governmental organizations and 1 non-member state, the progress made by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations since September 2019 across the different pillars. The High Representative will also present the new initiatives launched in the areas of prevention and mediation, as well as the new actions taken to address challenges posed by the global pandemic of the coronavirus in 2020.
The opening plenary of the meeting will provide the Group of Friends with the space to express their views regarding these underlying questions: What future do we want for our societies, and how do we get there? What can the UNAOC Group of Friends do to support UNAOC in its endeavors?
The opening segment will start at 09:00AM (EDT) and conclude by 11:30AM (EDT). It will be followed by 2 interactive webinars, each for 90 minutes, focusing on: 1) “An Intergenerational Conversation: The Future They Want”, and 2) “Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination: The Tearing of Our Societies”. The concept note and format of the webinars will be shared in due course.

Tentative Programme

09:00AM-09:40AM Opening segment
H.E. Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, chairs the meeting, welcomes participants and delivers remarks and presentation
Remarks by H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (video message)
Remarks by H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkır, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (video message)
Remarks by Spain and Turkey
Video on commemorating the 15th Anniversary of UNAOC

09:40AM-11:25AM Plenary segment
Statements by Member States, Observers and International Organizations (per the list of speakers; interventions are limited to 3 minutes)

11:25AM-11:30AM Closing segment
Concluding remarks by H.E. Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

11:30AM-11:45AM Intermission 1

11:45AM-01:15PM Webinar 1: “An Intergenerational Conversation: The Future They Want”
Panel discussion among experts, civil society and senior United Nations officials, moderated by UNAOC (Read more about Webinar 1)

01:15PM-03:00PM Intermission 2

03:00PM-04:30PM Webinar 2 “Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination: The Tearing of Our Societies”
Panel discussion among experts, civil society and senior United Nations officials, moderated by UNAOC (Read more about Webinar 2)

Concept Notes and Programmes (please wait for the documents to load)
PlenaryWebinar 1Webinar 2
Plenary Session: High-level Group of Friends Meeting
Download (PDF, 380KB)

Webinar 1: “An Intergenerational Conversation: The Future They Want”
Download (PDF, 361KB)

Webinar 2 “Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination: The Tearing of Our Societies”
Download (PDF, 361KB)

An Intergenerational Conversation: The Future They Want
2020-09-29 11:45 - 13:15 (America/Halifax) | Online
An Interactive webinar on the margins of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly
The current youth generation is acknowledged as the largest in history with 1.85 billion young women and men 10 to 24 years of age in the world, 90% of whom live in developing countries and one in four affected by violence or armed conflict. Africa and the Arab region have a wealth of young people who account for two thirds of the Arab region’s population and 65% of the African continent.
It would be stating the obvious to say that young women and men are critical agents for social change, economic growth and development. They actively contribute to the resilience of their communities and represent an important pool of talent, ideas, energy and passion. Young people are a key asset which can leverage unparalleled multiplier effects with their ability to mobilize their peers and implement innovative solutions to address challenges.
At the same time, young people continue to suffer disproportionately from conflict and poverty and have been traditionally facing systemic challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated those challenges for most young women and men. Millions lost their jobs and hundreds of thousands remain without education due to partial closures of educational institutions. Failure to address those challenges leads to alienating young people and eroding their trust in the political establishments. Such environment provides an open space for extremist groups to exploit youth’s anger and despair to fan the flames of hatred and radicalization. Extremists and radical groups are taking advantage of the proliferation of digital platforms to double down on social media spreading hatred and offering youth a twisted sense of purpose based on lies.
Yet, during the pandemic, young people had also been in the front lines volunteering and providing support to their communities. They found ways to engage, demand change and fight for peace, inclusion and justice. It is, therefore, essential to recognize young people at the center of our recovery efforts and as we chart the re-building of peaceful, resilient and inclusive societies.
On 27 April 2020, the UN Security Council marked the 5th Anniversary of the adoption of the groundbreaking resolution 2250 (2015) by holding an open debate to take stock of the progress made in the previous five years and identify actions that the Security Council could take to ensure the meaningful participation of the youth in peace and security efforts. During the open debate, the UN Secretary-General presented the key findings of the first report focused on the youth, peace and security agenda mandated by UNSCR 2419 (2018). In his statement, the Secretary-General noted that notwithstanding the progress achieved, the Youth, Peace and Security agenda still faces formidable challenges. Participation opportunities remain inadequate, particularly in the decision-making processes. He called to action on youth, peace and security agenda and to address these challenges guided by the findings of the Independent Progress Study on Youth Peace and Security.
In July 2020, the Security Council adopted resolution 2535(2020), which in its first operational paragraph “calls on all relevant actors, to consider ways to increase the inclusive representation of youth for the prevention and resolution of conflict, as well as in peacebuilding, including when negotiating and implementing peace agreements, and to ensure the full, effective and meaningful participation of youth, recognizing that their marginalization is detrimental to building sustainable peace”.
In February 2019, the UN Security Council welcomed Africa’s initiative of the “Silencing the Guns” and called for international support and cooperation to achieve peace in Africa. In order to achieve (STG) agenda and article 17 of the African Youth Charter, the AU Youth Envoy launched a continental platform for conversation among young people to exchange views on the challenges and solutions towards to achieve a peaceful and prosperous Africa.
Framing the Conversation:
Youth is one of the five pillars of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) together with education, migration, media and the role of women as mediators and peacemakers in conflicts with cultural and religious settings. Through education, capacity building, training and many other opportunities for innovation and creativity, UNAOC empowers young women and men and youth-led civil society globally and recognize them as powerful agents for social change. Over the years, UNAOC has developed programming that recognizes young people as essential partners in fostering mutual understanding between peoples of different cultures and religions, highlighting the will of the majority to reject violent extremism and embrace diversity. Youth-led organizations that foster peaceful and inclusive societies have been supported since 2008 through the Youth Solidarity Fund (YSF). Seed funding and technical support are given to projects, led by and focused on young people, that demonstrate innovative and effective approaches to intercultural or interfaith dialogue. Financial support for recent editions has been provided by the Government of Finland. An independent evaluation report was produced in 2018, of ten youth-led organizations supported by YSF in 2016 and 2017, which includes best practices and lessons for similar youth-focused donor programmes.
In line with the theme chosen to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and in the spirit of keeping the UN75 dialogues going, this interactive conversation between UNAOC young alumni and senior officials will present an opportunity to further engage young people and amplify their voices around the importance of youth engagement in the peace and security agenda.
Objective:
Through an interactive, intergenerational discussion, the panel will identify key challenges that youth are currently facing as a result of the pandemic and will make recommendations to strengthen their engagement and amplify their voices as the world gears-up for recovering from the pandemic and re-building a better world.
Format:
The virtual event will take place on 29 September, 11:45AM – 1:15PM (EDT) in the form of an interactive conversation between UNAOC youth alumni.

Participants:

Leading the conversation:
Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos
High Representative, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

Panelists:
Mr. Vladimir Voronkov
Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
Ms. Diene Keita
Deputy Executive Director for Programme, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Assistant-Secretary-General
Amb. Sima Sami Bahous
Permanent Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Nations
Ms. Corinne Momal-Vanian
Executive Director, Kofi Annan Foundation

Special Guest
Ms. Aya Chebbi
Youth Envoy, African Union

UNAOC youth alumni panelists
Ms. Sif Heide-Ottosen
Fellowship Programme 2019 EUNA, Denmark
Mr. Tomas Horvath
Fellowship Programme 2017 EUNA, Slovak Republic
Ms. Ahlem Nasraoui
Intercultural Innovation Award 2017, Tunisia
Ms. Magdalen Amony
Intercultural Innovation Award 2019, Uganda
Ms. Theresa Saade
Intercultural Innovation Award 2014, Lebanon
Mr. Syed Ali Abbas
Intercultural Innovation Award 2017, Pakistan
Ms. Louise Kanza
PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival 2017, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa
Ms. Sivatharsini Raveendran
Youth Solidarity Fund 2019-2020, Sri Lanka
Mr. Mohammed Ghanem
Young Peacebuilders 3rd edition, Egypt
Ms. Farah El Alami
Young Peacebuilders 3rd edition, Jordan
Ms. Afaf Lamkoutar
Young Peacebuilders 3rd edition, Morocco

Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination: The Tearing of Our Societies
2020-09-29 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Halifax) | Online
An Interactive webinar on the margins of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

The COVID-19 pandemic has torn across the world, affected all segments of the population indiscriminately regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or gender, and continues to have far-reaching health and economic consequences. But for many, the impact extends beyond medical and financial concerns. The pandemic has exposed social and political fractures within communities, with discriminatory responses to fear, disproportionately affecting communities on the basis of their real or perceived national origin, skin color, or religion. Several political parties have latched into the COVID-19 crisis to advance anti-immigrant, white supremacist, anti-Semitic and xenophobic conspiracy theories that demonize minorities on the sheer basis of their religion, belief, or ethnicity.
Outbreaks create fear, and fear is a crucial ingredient for racism, xenophobia, and discrimination to thrive. This phenomenon manifests differently in different contexts and populations. Yet, there is a pattern in discriminatory acts: the target is generally the “other,” i.e., the migrant, someone belonging to a religious or ethnic minority, etc. These behavior patterns, not uncommon before the pandemic, often lead to the fragmentation of society. Racism and discrimination have detrimental effects not only on the safety and human dignity of those who are targeted but also on development, peace, and social cohesion. The United Nations Secretary-General has warned of the repercussions of these discriminatory manifestations urging for an inclusive, equitable, and universal response in addressing the pandemic.
The position of the United Nations on racism and all its manifestations is crystal clear: this scourge violates the Charter of the United Nations and debases the core values upon which it was founded. The prohibition of racial discrimination is enshrined in all core international human rights instruments. It places obligations on States and tasks them with eradicating discrimination in public and private spheres. Therefore, it is imperative to promote tolerance, inclusion, and respect for diversity and stand up against racism, xenophobia, hate speech, and all forms of discrimination. The United Nations Secretary-General has made this a priority through launching initiatives such as the UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, the UN Guidance Note on Addressing and Countering COVID-19 related Hate Speech3 , which builds on the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech4.
Framing the discussion:
COVID-19 is attacking societies at their core. The pandemic has devastated many lives and upended livelihoods. But we should not let it destroy our core humanistic values. Allowing the pandemic to tear apart the fabric of our societies would be one of the most severe upheavals of COVID-19. Inclusion of and dialogue with communities and marginalized groups helps in rebuilding trust and enhancing social cohesion. In this context, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is organizing a webinar to explore ways to scale-up a whole-of-society approach to prevent and counter the scourge of all forms of discrimination, xenophobia, and racism.
Format:
The panel will be convened in the format of an interactive discussion with speakers representing relevant UN entities, human rights experts, and other stakeholders, including the media. Speakers will give brief introductions (three minutes), and the moderator will conduct a tour-de-table.

Participants:
Leading the Conversation:
H.E. Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos
Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for UNAOC
Panelists:
Ms. Pramila Patten
@USGSRSGPatten
Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (OSRSG-SVC), Acting Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide (UN-OSAPG) @UN_GP_RtoP
Dr. Ahmed Shaheed
@ahmedshaheed
Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Mr. Jason Isaacson
Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer, American Jewish Committee @AJCGlobal
Ms. Nayeli Chavez-Geller
@nayelichavezg
New York Correspondent, Primer Impacto, Univisión
Ms. Alex Walden
Global Head of Human Rights, Google
Mr. George Salama (tbc)
Head of Public Policy, Government, and Philanthropy – MENA Region, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Twitter

2020 UNAOC Fellowship Programme
2020-10-05 - 2020-11-04 | Online
“Building Peace in the Age of New Media”
A Virtual Edition of the UNAOC Fellowship Programme

In its online configuration, the 2020 UNAOC Fellowship Programme will take the form of a virtual engagement programme consolidated over 18 days and preceded by an introduction phase of two weeks. The theme is “Building peace in the age of new media” and 20 Fellows from Europe, North America and the MENA region have been selected for their experience in the fields of media and peacebuilding.
From 5 to 16 October, 2020 UNAOC Fellows will be introduced to three online modules on intercultural and interreligious dialogue, media and peacebuilding, in line with the 2020 theme “Building peace in the age of new media”. Developed by UNAOC and trainers, each module will introduce Fellows to global trends, key concepts and good practices in the above-mentioned fields, with a focus on the different contexts across Europe, North America, the Middle East and North Africa.
From 19 to 28 October, each cohort will then engage separately in online conversations with relevant actors from six countries. For each country, Fellows will engage in a series of 60-minute online discussions with (a) government and official representatives, (b) religious and community leaders, (c) journalists and media professionals, (d) civil society organizations and representatives of grassroots initiatives. The topics of these exchanges will revolve around intercultural and interreligious dialogue, as well as the 2020 theme “Building peace in the age of new media”. Cohorts will debrief regularly, both separately and jointly. When feasible, participants will also engage in virtual activities that will introduce them to the cultural diversity of the destination countries.
From 29 October to 4 November, Fellows will engage in webinars and online workshops focusing on (a) interreligious and intercultural dialogue and (b) on “Building peace in the age of new media” and through various pedagogical methods. Each section will offer a webinar developed in collaboration with KAICIID and four online workshops – two workshops will engage cohorts separately and two will engage them together. During these workshops, Fellows will strengthen their competencies in the fields of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, media, and peacebuilding, and collaborate to develop material and recommendations on ways to use media and information technology to support the global community and international organizations in their work towards sustainable peace and conflict prevention.

Agenda

5-16 October: Introduction

19-28 October: Virtual exposure

29 October – 3 November: Capacity building activities

29-30 October: Intercultural and interreligious dialogue

2-3 November: Building peace in the age of new media

11 November: Conclusion

Bios: 2020 EUNA Fellows
Bios: 2020 MENA Fellows

2020 G20 Interfaith Forum
2020-10-13 - 2020-10-16 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All
The formal 2020 G20 Interfaith Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will take place from 13-16 October 2020. On the way to Riyadh, there will be regional forums in Argentina, Belgium, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, the Middle East, and Washington, D.C. These gatherings will produce statements and recommendations for the formal 2020 G20 Interfaith Forum. In addition, there are will be two pre-conferences in Riyadh to bring together the KAICIID Youth Programme and KAICIID Fellows right before the 2020 G20 Interfaith Forum in Riyadh that will contribute substantive input for the Forum.
View the Livestream Here

Collaborating Partners
The G20 Interfaith Forum Association wishes to express particular appreciation for its co-organizing partners this year for the 2020 G20 Interfaith Forum being hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), and the Saudi Arabian National Committee for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue (NCIRD).

Download (PDF, 9.11MB)

Hemispheric Forum on Freedom of Religion or Belief
2020-10-23 10:30 - 13:30 (America/Halifax) | Online
UNAOC will participate the First Hemispheric Forum on Freedom of Religion or Belief, which is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia.
The forum aims to promote cooperation in the hemisphere, provide information on promoting religious freedom, and create a space to recognize and promote interfaith dialogue.
Mr. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), will deliver opening remarks during the Ministerial Plenary on 23 October.

United Nations Roundtable of Media and Information Literacy Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2020
2020-10-28 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Halifax)
Resisting Disinfodemic: Media and Information Literacy for Everybody and by Everybody
Ms. Nihal Saad, Chief of Cabinet and Spokesperson for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), will participate at the UN Roundtable of Media and Information Literacy Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2020, with the theme “Resisting Disinfodemic: Media and Information Literacy for Everybody and by Everybody”.

As disinformation has become a cross-cutting problem for the different goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda, so too different UN agencies may find shared interests in the role of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) as part of the responses. This document outlines some ways in which MIL is relevant to the mandates of different members of the UN family, and possible points of co-operation. This novel first round of discussions may lay the ground for continued dialogues and practical steps forward.
Learn More

2020 Balkans Forum Against Anti-Semitism
2020-10-28 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Halifax) | Online
Mr. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), will participate in the 2020 Balkans Forum Against Anti-Semitism, hosted by the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, in partnership with the Combat anti-Semitism Movement (CAM) and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
The Forum will take place on October 28th, 2020 at 16:00 CET / 11:00 AM EST.
The aim of the conference is to create a united front among the Balkans to work together in order to eradicate the scourge of anti-Semitism from our discourse and to create better, more tolerant societies for future generations.
Register for the 2020 Balkans Forum Against Anti-Semitism Watch Live on YouTube

Les Rencontres Orient Occident du Château Mercier, Switzerland
2020-10-29 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | Online
9th Edition of the Rencontres Orient Occident at Château Mercier
Since 2012, Château Mercier has hosted the Rencontres Orient Occident in its peaceful setting in the heart of the Swiss Alps.
The event brings together the fields of philosophy, history, politics and geopolitics, law, economics, ecology and spirituality.
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Espai Debat - Ciclo Europa, Spain
2020-10-29 14:30 - 15:00 (America/Halifax)
L’H Espai de Debat is a platform integrated by diverse entities of a social character whose objective is to promote debate and citizen involvement in the city of l’Hospitalet del Llobregat.
Europe: Present and Future
Response to Covid19, global leadership and the biggest global challenges.
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Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief 2020
2020-11-16 - 2020-11-17 | Online
Hosted by the Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, H.E. Mr. Zbigniew Rau, the Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief aims to discuss the most current and pressing issues related to the freedom of religion or belief in the world. As the 2020 edition of the Ministerial will take place during the COVID-19 health crisis, one of the focus of the conference is how to advance freedom of religion and belief despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
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Freedom of Speech and caricatures vs. Respect of Religions : Clash or Alliance of Civilizations?
2020-11-19 14:30 - 15:30 (Europe/Paris)
A Zoom conversation with Mr. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for UNAOC, organized by the Aspen Institute of France
Following the recent events in Conflans Sainte Honorine with the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty and in Notre Dame Cathedral in Nice, and the Vienna shooting a few days later, France and Europe are hit again by fanatic attacks and murders committed in the name of Islam. The reaction by President Macron saying that France would not surrender its core value and freedom of expression, and the preparation of a law on “Islamic separatism” has generated fury in the Muslim world and the boycott of French products.
Should there be some limit in the freedom of speech and expression? Are we heading towards a new wave of terror and escalation of tensions?
25 years after the publication of the Clash of Civilizations and all attempts made to prevent it by promoting dialogue and alliance of Civilizations, can we say that Huntington’s predictions have prevailed? What could be the responses and the measures to be taken to guarantee mutual respect among religions and faiths and peaceful societies?
The Aspen Institute will host Miguel Moratinos, the Head of the UN body against extremism and radicalization, to discuss these sensitive issues and to seek his views in the global context.

The Aspen Institute France is an educational and policy studies organization based in Paris. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues.

Rome Mediterranean Dialogues
2020-11-25 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Halifax)
UNAOC will participate in the Rome Mediterranean Dialogues, the annual high-level initiative promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and ISPI (Italian Institute for International Political Studies) in Rome with the aim to rethink traditional approaches to the area complementing analyses of current challenges with new ideas and suggestions and to draft a new “positive agenda”, addressing shared challenges at both the regional and the international level.
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Securing Sport Virtual Edition 2020
2020-12-01 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax)
Mr. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for UNAOC, will participate in a session entitled “Protecting Sport in Regions in Turmoil” within the margins of the ICSS Securing Sport 2020 Virtual Edition. The session will explore ways to restore sport competitions in post-conflict countries and regions affected by turmoil, and how sport can contribute to prosperity and stability in areas affected by crises. The discussion will focus on methods of re-building relevant capacities required for staging and managing sporting events, at all levels, from grassroots to professional sports, and the possibility of organizing sporting events with an international dimension.

SECURING SPORT 2020 Virtual Edition: ‘Building Resilience in an Ever-Changing World’
The ICSS will convene its flagship conference Securing Sport from 01 – 04 December 2020, in a virtual event format under the theme ‘Building Resilience in an Ever-Changing World’. Securing Sport is an international and multisectoral conference, which was conceived to serve as a platform for discussions about the changes, challenges and threats to sport and the opportunities sport can generate in the socio-economic context. The latest editions were hosted by the Lancaster House in London and the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
By bringing together all ICSS partners and allies, Securing Sport gives inspiration to the ICSS regarding the general work objectives and future endeavors in safeguarding sport as a common good for humankind.
As an open-ended platform, Securing Sport unites international and national decision-makers, eminent experts and gives a voice to stakeholders across sectors with the aim of inspiring collective action and identifying solutions to enhance the safety, security and integrity of sport, while protecting its societal values.
In a series of digital events – Policy Dialogues, Expert Debates and Youth Interventions hosted by the ICSS initiative Save the Dream – set against a virtual stage backdrop, the panels will analyse some of the most pressing current challenges facing the world of sport and address global challenges, international approaches and ways to further strengthen multisectoral cooperation.
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26th Lisbon Forum: "Lessons learnt: what challenges still to overcome?"
2020-12-02 14:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Lisbon) | Virtual
Mr. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), will deliver keynote remarks in a session entitled “Lessons learnt: what challenges still to overcome?” in the margins of the 26th Lisbon Forum on 2 December 2020.

About the Lisbon Forum:
The world we live in is a complex system. One in which a heterogeneous network of actors has the power to influence decisions at global level, in certain cases without necessarily being held accountable for them. A system that continues to be characterised by increasing inequalities, which are still deeply embedded in our society. But it is also a system where us, the people, and our representatives, can come together and cooperate for the common good. This is the lesson that the COVID-19 pandemic has been teaching us since day one, forcing us to deal with a fundamental question: How can we enhance international solidarity’s impact in order to ensure a more sustainable and unified future?
Learn More about the 2020 Lisbon Forum

PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival: 2020 Awards Ceremony
2020-12-04 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration will hold the annual Awards Ceremony of their joint initiative, the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival. The virtual event will feature short films produced by young filmmakers from across the globe on the pressing issues of migration, diversity, social inclusion, the prevention of xenophobia, the future of our world, and interreligious dialogue.
Every year, PLURAL+ gives young people around the world the opportunity to express their vision and their creativity through multimedia production. To learn more, visit pluralplus.unaoc.org.

Virtual Launch: International Hub on Behavioural Insights to Counter Terrorism in Doha, Qatar
2020-12-07 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Halifax)
What?
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) will hold a soft virtual launch of the International Hub on Behavioural Insights to Counter Terrorism, which will be established as a UNOCT Programme Office in Doha, the State of Qatar.
The opening sessions will be followed by remarks from the Heads of the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities, who will provide their respective perspectives, experiences and good practices on the integration of behavioural insights to prevent and counter terrorism. The launch event will also include a presentation by UNOCT on the Hub and its programme of work, in addition to two other programmatic presentations by Mr. Fahad Al Kuwari from Hamad Bin Khalifa University of the State of Qatar, and Mr. Paul Daniell, Executive Director of the Strategy and Capability in the New South Wales Government.

Who?
Opening Remarks

Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of UNOCT

Guest of Honor

H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the State of Qatar

Distinguished Speakers

Major General Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al-Ansari, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Chairman of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee, Ministry of Interior, the State of Qatar
Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
Ms. Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate

Programmatic Presentations

Mr. Muhammad Rafiuddin Shah, Chief of Policy, Knowledge Management and

Coordination Branch of UNOCT

Mr. Fahad Al Kuwari, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, the State of Qatar
Mr. Paul Daniell, Executive Director, Strategy and Capability, New South Wales Government Education Standards Authority & Lecturer, The University of Sydney, Australia

When?
Monday, 7 December 2020 from 9:00am to 10:30am, New York time; and 5:00pm to 6:30pm, Doha, Qatar time.

Where?
The event will be open to media and streamed live on UN WebTV (https://webtv.un.org).

Background
Insights from behavioural science contribute to gain a better understanding of the threat of terrorism and violent extremism, which requires evidence-based research and analysis of individual, contextual and structural factors affecting human motivations, actions, interactions and responses.
A behavioural insights approach enables the identification of risk and resilience factors and the development of empirically validated interventions for policymakers and practitioners to effectively prevent and counter violent extremism.
In this context, the ‘International Hub on Behavioural Insights to Counter Terrorism’ has been established as a UNOCT Programme Office in Doha, Qatar, through a contribution agreement signed between UNOCT and the State of Qatar on 8 September 2020.
The Hub will perform three core functions:

conduct and advance research in behavioural sciences to better understand the drivers and factors contributing to radicalization leading to violent extremism and terrorism;
provide capacity-building assistance to Member States, regional organizations and civil society partners to develop and implement programmes, projects and initiatives that integrate behavioural insights to counter terrorism; and
promote communication, outreach and partnerships to share knowledge, expertise, experiences and lessons learned on behaviourally informed counter-terrorism interventions.

The International Hub will leverage the expertise of local, regional and international counter- terrorism actors, and enhance programming cooperation and coordination with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities operating in the field for impactful and “all-of-UN” programme delivery on behavioural insights to counter terrorism.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit website: https://bit.ly/OCT-BI
Contact : Ms. Laurence Gerard, gerardl@un.org

Global Pledge for Action Webinar: Gender equality in the context of COVID-19
2020-12-07 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
as part of the series of six sessions on implementing the Global Pledge for Action by Religious Actors and Faith-Based Organizations to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic in Collaboration with the United Nations
Co-facilitated by the UN Alliance of Civilizations, UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

The UN Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC), the Office on Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect (OSAPG) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) held a virtual consultation with religious leaders and actors on 28 May 2020. The consultation was organized in response to the 22 April call by the UN Secretary-General to religious actors to contribute to wider efforts against the pandemic and its consequences. The meeting brought together religious leaders and actors as well as faith-based organizations to discuss possible areas of action and collaboration with the United Nations in the common fight against COVID-19 and its socio-economic impacts. This consultation resulted in the Global Pledge for Action, which includes a declaration by religious leaders and actors with assurances and commitments in response to COVID-19, and a mapping of ongoing activities and possible areas of collaboration with the United Nations.
The first webinar, entitled “Gender equality in the context of COVID-19”, will be held via Cisco Webex on Monday, 7 December 2020 at 10:00-11:30 EDT/16:00-17:30 CET.
For the opening panel discussion, we are delighted to have confirmations from Ahmed Shaheed (UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief), Nahla Haidar (member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women), Samuel Jayakumar (South Asia Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief) and Ghida Anani (founder and director of ABAAD – Resource Centre for Gender Equality). Ibrahim Salama (Chief of OHCHR Human Rights Treaties Branch) will facilitate the inter-active discussion and peer-to-peer learning.
In the second part of this webinar on 7 December, all participants are kindly invited to present good practices and lessons learnt, and identify specific action needed to promote gender equality in the context of COVID-19. Please feel free to raise any questions, challenges and opportunities as well as to explore options for follow-up and further collaboration.
Participants need to have experience working in the field of combating COVID-19 and its impacts on society. If interested, please send an email with the designated person’s name, contact details and institutional affiliation to mwiener@ohchr.org with copy to anajimenez@unops.org and cruciani@un.org and you will receive the link to join the webinars following the registration.
Learn more about the Global Pledge for Action

Deadline - Call for Proposals: Grant Initiative on Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism
2020-12-09 23:00 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) | Online
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), within the framework of the UN Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism, implemented by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Centre for Sport and Security (ICSS), is pleased to launch a call for proposals to reinforce partnerships and cooperation with civil society organizations and non-State actors, with particular focus on youth-led organizations, while supporting them in delivering innovative projects, disseminating lessons learned and communicating best practices on how to make full use of the power of sport and its social values as a tool to prevent violent extremism.

UNAOC Fellowship Alumni Event: “Building peace and fostering social cohesion in the age of new media”
2020-12-10 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
Organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and supported by the Federal Foreign Office of the Republic of Germany

When: Thursday 10 December from 11:00AM to 1:00AM EST.
Where: https://www.unaoc.org/fellowship-alumni-event

Background
Across the world, we have witnessed an upsurge in hate speech, bigotry and racist rhetoric on social media and other forms of communication. In the words of the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Miguel Ángel Moratinos: “Stigmatization and vilification targeting certain communities based on their religion or belief is an affront to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” In line with its motto “Many Cultures, One Humanity”, UNAOC has worked on addressing these challenges by adopting a whole-of-society approach to foster intercultural and interfaith dialogue, building bridges of understanding and countering stereotyping and polarization.
Promoting the use of new media to foster social cohesion and sustainable peace has become crucial to tackle these threats and to deepen progress across the United Nations agenda, UNAOC is working closely to that effect with a wide range of stakeholders such as media professionals, policy makers, the private sector, civil society, youth organizations, women advocates, educators, religious and community leaders and more. In this context, UNAOC has invited twenty young professionals and civil society leaders from Europe, North America, the Middle East and North Africa, to share their recommendations and good practices for the meaningful use of new media and information technology in the global efforts for sustainable peace and social cohesion. All participants are UNAOC Fellows, professionally involved in the fields of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, media and peacebuilding.

The UNAOC Fellowship Programme and its Alumni Network
The Fellowship program is one of UNAOC’s flagship programs funded and supported by the Federal Republic of Germany. It’s an intercultural exchange programme between young professionals and civil society leaders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Europe and North America (EUNA). The Fellowship aims at deconstructing stereotypes and at fostering dialogue and understanding between youth of different faiths and cultures. During their trip, UNAOC Fellows meet with a wide range of stakeholders. Together, they explore opportunities for intercultural collaboration and exchange good practices on how to address current global challenges.
In 2020, the Fellowship Programme took the form of a virtual capacity-building exchange programme focused on “Building peace in the age of new media”. All 2020 UNAOC Fellows were selected for their professional achievements in the fields of media and peace-building. After completing their Fellowship, participants join the UNAOC Fellowship Alumni Network, a global pool of 250+ young experts and civil society leaders from 53 countries. UNAOC Fellowship Alumni are professionally involved in a wide spectrum of activities.

Objectives of the Event
The High Representative for the UNAOC will lead an interactive discussion with twenty UNAOC Fellowship Alumni from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and North Africa, on the role new media can play in building peace and fostering social cohesion.
In their exchange with the High Representative, discussants will share good practices and ideas about how to harness the power of new media and information technology to support the global community and international organizations in their work towards building sustainable peace and fostering social cohesion.
Together they will touch upon underlying issues such as exploring the definition of peace; fighting misinformation through media literacy; promoting inclusive intercultural and interreligious dialogue; drawing the line between hate speech and freedom of speech; engaging in All-of-Society partnerships
Basing their interventions on their own experience on the ground and engagement with UNAOC, Fellowship Alumni will share recommendations on how to leverage new media as a tool for good in the prevention and mediation of conflicts and in achieving peace.
Participants to the latest edition of the Fellowship Programme will share the lessons learned during their virtual visits to Austria, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Spain, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States on the role of new media in peacebuilding.

Virtual Exhibition
The event platform will also feature an online exhibition hall with virtual booths where the audience will be able to learn more about UNAOC, its #forSafeWorship campaign, 2020 UNAOC Fellows’ media projects, and other UNAOC programmes and activities.

Speakers
H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos
High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
H.E. Mr. Günter Sautter
Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations
Mr. Al Mustapha Sguenfle
Journalist for the Moroccan News Agency
Ms. Alba Sabaté-Gauxachs
Professor of Journalism and Global Communication Management at the Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations, Ramon Llull University
Mr. Ali Ghaith
Media and Communications Specialist for CARE
Ms. Amal El Jabali
Inclusive and Outreach Education Assistant at UNICEF
Ms. Anne Parsons
Visual Communications Manager at Kiron Open Higher Education
Mr. David Fischer
Media Coordinator for Human Rights Watch
Ms. Elizabeth Arif-Fear
Founder of “Voice of Salam”
Mr. Jacopo Ottaviani
Chief Data Officer at Code for Africa
Mr. Josh Cass
Founding member of the Forum for Religion and International Affairs
Ms. Kawtar Amrani
Product Policy Manager – Trust and Safety for TikTok
Ms. Kholoud Al Ajarma
Anthropologist and Refugee Rights’ Advocate
Ms. Najwa Ben Wheba
Social Media Journalist for Al Jazeera Arabic
Ms. Orla Murphy
Speechwriter to the President of the 75th session of the General Assembly
Mr. Peter Mosaad
Co-Founder of Robabikia
Ms. Radwa Sakr
Administrative Assistant and Consultant to the Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation
Ms. Samiha Tadjine
Academic Advisor for the Advanced Science and Creativity Association
Mr. Tim Mortimer
Programme Manager at The Faith & Belief Forum
Ms. Veronika Verner
Communication Specialist for the Council of Europe
Mr. Walid Alnabahin
Founder of the Media Show initiative
Mr. Yehuda Silverman
Faculty Diversity Postdoctoral Fellow at Ursuline College
