Harnessing the ability of synthetic intelligence (AI) and combating hate speech, misinformation and disinformation are a part of the plan to strengthen peace and mutual understanding as heads of state and authorities, together with kings, presidents and prime ministers of Cape Verde, Senegal and Spain, unanimously adopted the Cascais Declaration.
The declaration, named after the town that may host the tenth Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance for Civilizations from 25 to 27 November, outlines a collection of actions and focuses on options to a present panorama of eroding belief and rising anti-Semitism, nationalism and on-line hatred.
“These are very troublesome occasions,” the United Nations mentioned Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the opening session of the discussion board. “In such a state of affairs, we’d like peace” now, in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Ukraine and past.
The adoption of the declaration is the centerpiece of the tenth Global Forum, which featured a dynamic youth discussion board and movie pageant on Monday, the Intercultural Innovation Hub ceremony on Tuesday, and energetic panels all through, addressing present challenges, from surge of anti-Semitism to the ability of younger folks.
“We want voices and motion in any respect ranges,” together with in communities, on-line and throughout cultures and establishments, utilizing all out there instruments, Guterres mentioned.
Find out extra in regards to the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and its Global Forum in our explainer Here.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivers remarks on the high-level ministerial assembly of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, in Cascais, Portugal.
Highlights of the Cascais Declaration
The 25-paragraph declaration highlighted quite a lot of progressive actions and keys to unlocking this much-needed peace. He famous the potential use of synthetic intelligence as a software to advertise intercultural and interreligious dialogue and underlined the significance of combating disinformation, disinformation and hate speech, whereas strengthening the integrity of data.
The Cascais Declaration additionally underlined the significance of intergenerational dialogue for peace, sustainable growth and human rights; underlined the contribution of “sports activities diplomacy” as a software to advertise dialogue and underlined the necessity to assist and strengthen the position of ladies as negotiators, mediators and peacemakers.
With its provisions, international leaders and companions dedicated to:
- Underline the necessity to fight all types of spiritual intolerance
- Recognize the central position of inclusive, high quality and transformative schooling in selling dialogue, peace and human rights
- Recognize the position that spiritual leaders can play in battle mediation and growth cooperation
- Highlight the optimistic influence that protected, orderly and common migration can have on nations of origin and vacation spot, together with via the promotion of cultural pluralism, and encourage the artistic imaginative and prescient of younger folks to stop xenophobia and spotlight optimistic narratives on cultural variety, l social inclusion and mobility
- We pay attention to the adoption of Pact for the futurewhich acknowledges the position of a reinvigorated multilateralism and the significance of the voice of non secular leaders and spiritual organizations in selling a tradition of peace
The declaration additionally underlines the significance of encouraging the implementation of the United Nations Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Religious Sites and requires the implementation of the suggestions and commitments to be made on the United Nations Global Conference on the Safeguarding of Religious Sites , which will likely be held on Wednesday throughout the United Nations World Conference on the Safeguarding of Religious Sites. tenth Global Forum.
The conflict in Gaza is just not civilization
Before the adoption of the declaration, the top of the United Nations and world leaders spoke, together with Senegalese Prime Minister Aminata Touré, who drew consideration to the devastating conflict underway in Gaza.
“As we witness what is occurring in Gaza, with greater than 42,000 casualties, principally civilians, what does civility imply on this context?” he requested. “Civilization is predicated on ‘you kill one in all mine, I’ll kill 34,16 of yours,’ which is, thus far, Israel’s price of retaliation towards the unacceptable and extensively condemned assaults of October 2023. The insufferable scenes that Let’s see, do not they make any dialogue about civilization appear misplaced on tv?”
He acknowledged that there isn’t any different option to strategy civilization apart from a dialogue primarily based on equal rights constructed into the world Charter of the United Nations and worldwide framework.
King Don Felipe VI of Spain instructed delegates that “within the twenty first century, diplomacy is an instrument of peace, however its conventional instruments are out of date and have to be complemented with new spheres of motion, extra audacity, creativity and pragmatism ”.
“We should increase our imaginative and prescient”
“We should increase our imaginative and prescient to know extra deeply what unites us,” mentioned King Don Felipe VI. “The Alliance of Civilizations is the implementation of what’s often called the diplomacy of values, breaking down partitions and constructing bridges,” he added. “Our actions should transcend convention rooms, colleges, assembly locations and the market.”
In this regard, he mentioned, social media can act as a catalyst, he mentioned, referring to the Alliance’s Youth Solidarity Fund, which was unveiled on the primary day of the tenth Global Forum.
However, there may be nonetheless a lot to be completed, he mentioned. At a time when dehumanization is a rising downside, he pressured that efforts should goal to get rid of stereotypes and be sure that the richness of human variety advantages all.
“Restoring belief is important”
Similarly, UN Secretary-General Guterres mentioned the absence of peace is resulting in an erosion of belief, making the work of the Alliance of Civilizations extra necessary than ever.
“Restoring belief is our important job,” he mentioned.
“Hate-filled frenzies are perpetuating stereotypes and misconceptions,” the UN chief mentioned. Unchecked digital platforms and synthetic intelligence have given hate speech a velocity and scale by no means seen earlier than. We should curb hate speech and misinformation unfold on-line.”
Next step: a worldwide alliance for peace
Alliance High Representative Miguel Ángel Moratinos renewed his name for a peace alliance to finish violence, extremism and wars within the twenty first century.
“Biodiversity have to be protected, however what about human variety?” he requested.
“We have to make peace with nature and we have to make peace with ourselves,” he mentioned, stressing that the Alliance is one of the best platform to take action.
Stay tuned for additional updates because the tenth Global Forum continues, with the Intercultural Innovation Hub ceremony happening later Tuesday and classes operating via Wednesday on present points from sports activities diplomacy and spiritual mediation for peace to comfortable energy of synthetic intelligence and the exploitation of the position of ladies peacemakers.
Social circus for social change
Circus Zambia focuses on social change, together with gender equality and girls’s empowerment.
How is peace made? Dozens of grassroots examples from world wide will take to the stage on Tuesday night throughout a ceremony on the sidelines of the tenth Global Forum, hosted by the Intercultural Innovation Hub, an initiative led by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the enormous automotive The BMW Group with the assist of the know-how firm Accenture.
Gift Chansa, co-founder and creative director of Circus Zambia, is working for social change, beginning within the crime-plagued neighborhood of Chibolya, exterior the capital, Lusaka, the place he grew up.
“The objective is for younger folks to understand that they’ve the ability to vary their circumstances and to know that the place you come from doesn’t decide the place you go,” he mentioned UN News.
This yr, Circus Zambia is amongst 10 non-governmental organizations from world wide that will likely be honored on the ceremony.
Ilka Horstmeier, from BMW Group, mentioned Circus Zambia is a superb instance of spreading the messages of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations world wide.
“They actually make it occur for little children,” she mentioned. “With circus actions, they achieve self-confidence. We really want to put money into these children. They are the long run.”
Watch the Intercultural Innovation Hub ceremony reside on United Nations Web TV Here.
Gift Chansa is the co-founder of Circus Zambia.
