UNAOC aims to improve understanding and cooperation among nations and peoples across cultures and to reduce polarization at local and global levels. It helps develop more inclusive societies, in which diversity is experienced as an asset.
The United Nations Secretary-General has committed to a vision of what he describes as sustaining
peace. The Security Council and the General Assembly view this approach as “both a goal and a
process to build a common vision of a society, ensuring that the needs of all segments of the
population are taken into account”. This past April, the Secretary-General addressed the General
Assembly on the issue of peacebuilding and said, “we need a holistic approach which prioritizes
prevention and addresses the root causes of conflict by integrating peace, sustainable development
and human rights”. The international community has long recognized that comprehensive
approaches are necessary preconditions for sustaining peace. In this connection, a culture of peace is
not simply conceived as the end of a conflict or a diplomatic compromise. Rather, establishing a
lasting peace that transforms conflicting relationship is a prolonged process that involves dialogue,
cooperation and mutual understanding. Moreover, promoting a culture of peace and sustaining it
requires support for inclusivity, particularly of those who are frequently marginalized and excluded.
That means women and girls, youth and minorities of all kinds.
For UNAOC, soft power remains a crucial tool for conflict prevention, peace building and
reconciliation. Since its inception, UNAOC has emphasized the importance of promoting mutual
understanding, trust and peaceful coexistence in order to reduce the prejudice and hatred that fuel
violence and conflict. A culture of peace is implausible without a genuine commitment to education,
both formal and non-formal. Glorification of violence based on racism, xenophobia and related
intolerance, hate speech and divisive rhetoric, often propagated through traditional and new media
platforms, can profoundly undermine any serious attempt to help create a culture of peace.
Conversely, global citizenship education and media reporting can greatly enhance a culture of peace
and diminish racist, aggressive, discriminatory and violent attitudes.
Background
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) was established in 2005, as a political
initiative of Mr. Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General, and co-sponsored by the
Governments of Spain and Turkey. In its 2006 report, the High-Level Group, appointed by the
Secretary-General to develop the mandate for UNAOC, identified four priority areas for
action: Education, Youth, Migration, Media. UNAOC project activities are fashioned around these
four areas, which can play a critical role in helping to reduce cross-cultural tensions and to build
bridges between communities. UNAOC has been described as the soft power tool of the Secretary730
General for bridging divides and promoting understanding between countries or identity groups all
with a view to preventing conflict and promoting social cohesion. Each year, during the high level
week of the General Assembly, UNAOC Group of Friends meet at the Ministerial level. Recent
themes of Ministerial meetings of the Group of Friends have addressed youth engagement,
countering xenophobia and the relevance of UNAOC to implementation of the Sustainable
Development Goals.
In 2018, the theme of the UNAOC Ministerial level meeting of the Group of Friends will be
“Building Bridges: Using Soft Power to Promote a Culture of Peace”. In light of the Secretary-
General’s emphasis on conflict prevention, a focus on the ways in which soft power approaches can
contribute to the development of the culture of peace needed to prevent conflicts of tomorrow is
needed today.
Issues and Significance
This event will provide the High Representative with the opportunity to brief members of the Group
of Friends at the Ministerial level on current and future activities of the organization. It will allow for
descriptions of on-going project activities that use soft power approaches to enhance the
development of a culture of peace through the use of inclusive and sustained dialogue involving
youth, civil society and faith-based organizations, addressing the root causes of conflicts as well as
the promotion of tolerance.
Outcome and Format
This event will provide opportunities for Ministerial level officials to provide feedback to UNAOC
on its activities. The opening session will be followed by an open debate among Member States and
an overview of UNAOC’8th Global Forum in November 2018.
About Us
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) was established in 2005, as the political initiative of Mr. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General and co-sponsored by the Governments of Spain and Turkey.
A High-Level Group of experts was formed by Mr. Annan to explore the roots of polarization between societies and cultures today, and to recommend a practical programme of action to address this issue. The Report of the High-Level Group provided analysis and put forward practical recommendations that form the basis for the implementation plan of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
On 27 February 2013, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser assumed the position of High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations succeeding President Jorge Sampaio.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations High Representative and Secretariat are based and operating from New York. The Alliance maintains a global network of partners including states, international and regional organizations, civil society groups, foundations, and the private sector to improve cross-cultural relations between diverse nations and communities.
In its 2006 report, the High-Level Group identified four priority areas for action: Education, Youth, Migration, Media. UNAOC project activities, fashioned around these four areas, which can play a critical role in helping to reduce cross-cultural tensions and to build bridges between communities.
Vision Statement
Guided by the principles of the UN Charter, the report of its High-Level Group, and the priorities of the Secretary-General, the UN Alliance of Civilizations works toward a more peaceful, more socially inclusive world, by building mutual respect among peoples of different cultural and religious identities, and highlighting the will of the world’s majority to reject extremism and embrace diversity. UNAOC will seek to operate in situations where is can contribute to broader efforts to ameliorate identity based crises and promote culturally sensitive development policies.
Mission Statement
The High-level group described UNAOC as an entity that would assist in diminishing hostility and promoting harmony among the nations. The UN Secretary-General has described it as a soft power tool for bridging divides and promoting understanding between countries or identity groups, all with a view toward preventing conflict and promoting social cohesion. UNAOC pursues its objectives through a variety of activities:
- Contacts and dialogues with stakeholders (governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental)
- Development of targeted projects
- Advocacy, including direct public statements or appearances by the High Representative or UNAOC staff
- Interventions to defuse religious and cultural tensions by mobilizing third parties that can act as forces of moderation and understanding such as religious leaders, grassroots organizations, youth leaders and women leaders.
Add new comment