UNAOC Forum: Bridging Cultures, Building Peace

Now more than ever, we are experiencing a clash of cultures and religions all over the world. Through immigration, the Internet, and global communication, the world’s diverse cultures, traditions, and religions are being delivered to our front door everyday. While some would have us believe that the violence and conflict caused by this clash of civilizations is inevitable, more and more people are bravely standing up around the world and proclaiming that their culture and faith is one of peace with the rest of the world. It is true that religion and culture can cause great tension, but it is equally true that such diversity can be a source of enrichment and opportunity. The only question is, which one do you believe?

From May 27th-29th 2010, over 3,000 political and corporate leaders, mayors, civil society activists, youth, journalists, foundations, international organizations, and religious leaders will gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Forum. The theme for the forum is “Bridging Cultures, Building Peace” and will focus on promoting trust, understanding, and peace between cultures and religion. The Rio Forum will present a unique platform for the world’s great leaders, thinkers, and activists to collaborate, share their knowledge and experience, and rethink the way in which we deal with interreligious and intercultural conflict. Not only will the Rio Forum talk the talk, but walk the walk as well. Its main goal is to agree on joint actions to improve interreligious and intercultural relations, combat prejudice, and build a foundation for sustainable peace.

As stated on the Rio Forum’s official website, the event will aim to find peaceful solutions to the following questions:

"1. How can we create inclusive societies, founded on the respect for human rights and diversity?

2. What kind of actions do we need to combat intolerance and prejudice?

3. What tools do children and young people need to navigate an increasingly complex and multicultural world?

4. What is the impact of globalization on people’s sense of belonging and identity?

5. How do economic inequalities impact on relations among diverse communities? "

The platform for the Rio Forum will be built on four pillars: innovation, partnerships, ideas, and action.

The Illustration of Innovative Projects Session will focus on the most cutting-edge initiatives bridging cultures and religions, and will feature promising grassroots projects that have the potential to be duplicated on a global scale and applied in diverse communities around the world. The objective of the Innovative Projects Session is to provide a global arena for the world’s most dynamic civil society entrepreneurs, where they can directly engage with decision-makers and opinion leaders.

Next, the Rio Forum will help forge crucial global partnerships between youth activists and business leaders, heads of foundations and grassroots organizations, human rights activists and policy-makers, political leaders and civil society, religious leaders and academics, and journalists and editors. Together, they will collaborate, share and develop new ideas, and enter into joint ventures promoting mutual trust and understanding across cultural and religious divides.

The event will also be a breeding ground for innovative ideas about some of the world’s most pressing issues. Participants will be presented with the challenge of tackling issues such as: integration in multicultural societies, the influence of globalization on people’s identity and sense of belonging, education and empowerment of women, the role of religious leaders in promoting peace, and the influence of media on perceptions of other cultures and religions.

Lastly, the Rio Forum will include working sessions, roundtables, workshops and debates. Participants will have the opportunity to network, form new partnerships, and launch new joint projects. National Plans and Regional Strategies will also be showcased, providing momentum to new projects, linking innovative initiatives around the world, and shaping new policies to involve all of mankind towards the pursuit of the common good.

High-level participants at the Rio Forum will include President Lula da Silva of Brazil, Prime Minister Zapatero of Spain, Prime Minister Erdoğan of Turkey, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Sampaio, High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

The event in Rio will mark the third UNAOC Forum, and the first Forum outside of Europe.

Website: www.rioforum.org