Major new initiatives to promote tolerance launched at UN-backed Alliance of Civilizations Forum by UN News / Alliance of Civilizations 5:05pm 14th Jan, 2008   16 January 2008    Dialogue only sure way to overcome prejudice, Ban Ki-moon tells Madrid summit.    Highlighting the terrible toll intolerance is taking around the world, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed that fostering dialogue is the only sure way to counter extremism and build cross-cultural understanding.    “Never in our lifetime has there been a more desperate need for constructive and committed dialogue, among individuals, among communities, among cultures, among and between nations,” Mr. Ban told the first UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum, which opened today in Madrid.    The two-day meeting in the Spanish capital brings together political leaders, the media, corporate and film industry executives, and grassroots and civil society leaders to promote the global campaign launched by the UN to help overcome prejudices between nations and cultures and to promote interfaith dialogue.    “You may have different backgrounds and perspectives, but you share a common conviction that the Alliance of Civilizations is an important way to counter extremism and heal the divisions that threaten our world,” Mr. Ban said.    He added that participants share a determination to use the unique platform the Forum offers to speak openly and honestly about cross-cultural concerns, as well as to advance new partnership initiatives.    The Secretary-General welcomed several high-profile initiatives launched at the Forum’s first day, including major projects aimed at promoting understanding among cultures in the areas of media and youth.    He noted that such efforts will help bolster the UN’s efforts in preventive diplomacy, and in supporting sustainable peace processes. “No matter how many resolutions we adopt, envoys we dispatch, or peace agreements we negotiate, their prospects of success will be fragile if the parties do not have a real and profound sense of our shared humanity.”    January 16th 2008    Major Initiatives launched at the First Alliance of Civilizations Forum.    A 100 million dollar investment in a Global Youth Employment Initiative and a multi-million dollar Media Fund were among the key initiatives that were launched at the first Alliance of Civilizations Forum, which was hosted by the Spanish Government and concluded today in Madrid.    H.H. Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser-el-Missned announced a $100 million investment in Silatech, a global youth employment initiative aimed, she said at “connecting young people to each other, to capital, to industry, to opportunity.” Her Highness added, “By investing in our youth, we are investing in the security of our nations, and only secure and confident nations can build alliances based on mutual respect and common objectives.”    The Alliance of Civilizations Media Fund was launched by HM Queen Noor, who stated: “we are announcing a $100 million Fund to support the production and distribution of films that entertain as well as enlighten – films that will enhance the connections that already exist between different societies, but are seldom noted on screen and in popular culture.”    Hosted by the government of Spain, the Forum brought together an influential network of political leaders, media heads, youth and civil society leaders, corporate and film industry executives, and religious figures. Over the last two days, they explored ways of building partnerships to promote greater understanding and respect among cultures.    Other initiatives launched at the Forum include:Announcement of national and regional strategies for cross cultural dialogue by governments and multilateral organizations to advance AoC objectives in their respective countries and regions.    Discussions at the policymaking level that highlight the importance to move the Alliance forward in 2008 such as: developing joint multi-stakeholders initiatives at the regional level aimed at promoting a better inter-cultural understanding, and preventing the mounting of tensions and the rise of extremism; contributing to the upgrade of the inter-cultural dialogue, namely among the two banks of the Mediterranean Sea; launching a number of activities within the framework of active and city diplomacy.    Establishment of partnership agreements, with various multilateral agencies and organizations, which contain specific terms that will enable the AoC to leverage networks, contacts, and competitive advantages of partners in the implementation of its programs. We have signed 5 agreements - with UNESCO, the League of Arab States, ISESCO, ALECSO and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) - and a letter of intent with the Council of Europe.    Launch of the AoC Clearinghouse beginning with a theme of Media Literacy Education, which will catalogue media literacy programs and related government policies in different parts of the world; and announcements of partnerships with 18 universities that will serve as nodes to enliven this clearinghouse by initiating exchanges and posting materials on the latest development in media literacy education.    Launch of a Rapid Response Media Mechanism beginning with an online resource that will feature a list of global experts in cross-cultural issues, who are available to comment or to talk to journalists, particularly in times of major cross-cultural crises.    Establishment of a Youth Solidarity Fund aimed at providing grants to support youth-led programs in the areas of intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Moreover, a decision was made to strengthen the network of youth participants that attended the AoC Forum and broaden the network to include other youth.    Creation of a global network of philanthropic foundations and private funders, which will share information; raise awareness of ongoing initiatives, identify mutual needs; and explore ways to leverage existing resources for greatest impact.    Establishment of an Alliance network of good will ambassadors made up of prominent, high-profile, internationally recognized figures drawn form the worlds of politics, culture, sport, business and entertainment to help in promoting the work of the Alliance, highlighting priority issues and drawing attention to its activities.    Commitment by the United Nations Global Compact to producing a publication aimed at raising the visibility of best practices in the corporate sector toward supporting cross-cultural relations.    Adoption of an action-oriented statement of solidarity and joint commitment by diverse religious leaders toward providing youth with guidance to counter extremist influence, promoting a sense of shared security in their various constituencies, and elevating the role of women in future religious projects.    In his remarks, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: “The Alliance of Civilizations is an important way to counter extremism and heal the divisions that threaten our world.”    The President of the Government of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero stated: “The Alliance of Civilizations aspires to build bridges that can help us to manage the differences existing in the world, particularly those linked to religious or cultural issues.”    President Sampaio, former President of Portugal and High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, said in concluding the forum: “So many responsibilities ahead of us show that the Alliance is the right initiative at the right moment. Urgent action is needed to stop further degradation of human atmosphere. Let’s keep united and firm in our certainty that we can change the world.”    Jan 14, 2008    Author Paulo Coelho, Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, Queen Noor of Jordan, Al Jazeera anchor Riz Khan, Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa, and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson are among the public figures coming to Madrid on January 15-16 to find new ways to bridge the growing divide between nations and cultures worldwide, and to establish new partnerships to promote global understanding.    Hosted by the government of Spain, the Alliance of Civilizations Forum will convene political leaders, media heads, grassroots and civil society leaders, corporate and film industry executives, and religious figures.    OBJECTIVES OF THE ALLIANCE    Today"s globalised world has given rise to an increasingly high level of contacts between different cultures and civilizations. However, sometimes the greater diversity of our societies is perceived more as a threat than as an opportunity. Managing coexistence between cultures, both inside and outside of our borders, is going to be a challenge at the top of the international agenda in the coming decades.    With this aim, the Alliance of Civilizations was born. The initiative was presented by the President of the Government of Spain in September 2004, during the 59th United National General Assembly. Later, the Prime Minister of Turkey joined the initiative as co-sponsor. Accepted formally by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 14 July 2005, the Alliance has been, since then, an initiative of the Secretary-General.    This initiative has received the unanimous backing of the UN member States, as noted in the Final Document of the 2005 World Summit.    In very little time, the Alliance has become consolidated as a useful instrument in the effort to correct the reciprocal negative perceptions that seem to exist between the Western world and the Arab-Islamic world, an atmosphere that has been exploited and aggravated by extremists from all societies. This is why there was a need to form a wide-ranging coalition to counteract this trend towards extremism and to avoid greater deterioration in the relationships between societies. Governments have a duty to not stand by passively as this gap widens. It is necessary to highlight our shared values and build, on this basis, common lines of action in a series of areas for political action.    The Alliance of Civilizations aims to create a global political space to combat a lack of communication and promote mutual understandings. Visit the related web page
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