Global Arab Network | Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations: new opportunities for policy-makers

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Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations: new opportunities for policy-makers

Global Arab Network - - Adam Turner

Sunday, 29 March 2009 20:30

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, President of the Government of Spain Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Jorge Sampaio, High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations will open the Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations. Several Heads of State and over 50 Ministers will participate in the event. The President of the United States , Barack Obama, is expected to be present on the second day of the Forum.

A powerful network of opinion leaders, heads of international organizations, corporations, media, foundations, civil society, religious groups and youth will convene at the Istanbul Forum. The event will also provide new opportunities for policy-makers, funders and grassroots organizations to work together to develop practical projects.

The Istanbul Forum follows the success of the inaugural Alliance Forum which was held in Madrid , Spain , in January 2008. Like Madrid , the Istanbul Forum will be firmly action-oriented, with an emphasis on delivering concrete projects and practical outcomes. A number of high-profile initiatives will be presented, including:

- A cluster of Euro-Mediterranean projects aimed at restoring trust and rebuilding bridges in this region, in the wake of the Gaza crisis.

- Café Salam, a highly innovative technology with a unique application that will allow university students in different cities around the world to engage in intercultural dialogue.

- An initial showcasing of the Alliance Fellowship Program to facilitate meaningful exchanges of young leaders from a number of countries and establish working relationships between them.

- Plural +, a youth film festival focused on migration themes to be launched in partnership with the International Organization for Migration.

-The Alliance of Civilizations Media Fund will outline its future strategy and a range of partnerships including with YouTube, Participant Media, Summit Entertainment and International Creative Management .

- The Silatech project, which is using innovative technology and partnerships to connect young people with employment opportunities in the Middle East , will unveil its three-year benchmarks and specific areas of focus.

- The Global Model United Nations (GMUN) 2010, a world-class student diplomacy training on the theme of the Alliance of Civilizations.

- Doing Business in a Multi-cultural World - Challenges and Opportunities, a joint report of the Alliance of Civilizations and the UN Global Compact showcasing a range of best practices and case studies for companies to use in responding to the diversity of today's business environments.

- The Charter of Compassion, an international campaign, led by Alliance High-level Group Member Karen Armstrong, to unite the world religions and launch initiatives in support of a call for compassion in societies around the world.

- The launch of Mapping Media Education Policies Around the World, a joint publication by the Alliance and UNESCO on media education policies.

- A campaign to mobilize global citizens to engage in intercultural actions in their local communities.

- A new set of partnerships with the International Labour Office, the Ibero-American Community, the Commonwealth, l' Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and the Communidades de Países de Língua Portuguesa - CPLP (Community of Portuguese speaking countries) will be signed with announcements of future joint initiatives.

- A unique Marketplace of Ideas session to showcase the most innovative and successful grassroots projects aimed at transcending cultural divides and building peace.

Further, major expansions in three ongoing projects of the Alliance will be made public:

- The AoC Rapid Response Media Mechanism, an online resource featuring experts on intercultural issues whom the media can turn to in times of international crises. A major partnership with the European Commission and the Anna Lindh Foundation for the development of a Rapid Response Mechanism in the Euromed region

- The Alliance of Civilizations Clearinghouse, an online educational tool on multiple issues aimed at improving cross-cultural understanding; two new clearinghouses - on education about diverse religions and beliefs and on global initiatives to mobilize young people toward advancing intercultural understanding - will be launched.

- The results of the AoC Youth Solidarity Fund will be showcased: innovative youth-led projects aimed at building bridges across diverse cultures

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