Istanbul Forum Report - United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

120 Pages·2009·6.69 MB·English

Second
A L L I A NCE OF
CI V IL IZ AT IONS
F ORUM
6-7 April 2009 – Istanbul, Turkey
Published by:
Alliance of Civilizations Secretariat
866 UN Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10017
USA
www.unaoc.org
Design and Layout:
Hedie Joulaee
Photos:
Sipahiler
Printed in the United States by AGS Custom Graphics
Disclaimer:
This report seeks to capture key elements of the proceedings and discussion during the sec-
ond Alliance of Civilizations Forum. It does not purport to be a transcript and is necessarily
selective. It should not be taken as a complete or authoritative record of any individual state-
ment or intervention, nor expressing the views of the United Nations Alliance of Civiliza-
tions. Participants should be consulted directly for an authoritative statement of their views.
Copyright © 2009 Alliance of Civilizations
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword 6
Introduction 8
Outcomes of the Forum 10
Existing Projects: Progress and Future Directions 10
New Projects 12
Partnership Agreements 14
National Plans and Regional Strategies 14
Group of Friends 16
High-level Debate 16
Focal Points Meeting 20
The Marketplace of Ideas 22
Youth at the Istanbul Forum 26
Plenary Sessions 30
Working Sessions 62
Working Breakfasts 86
Appendixes 104
List of Participants 104
List of Organizers 118
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5
FOREwORd
The Second Forum of the Alliance of Civiliza- In addition to generating new ideas and areas of
tions, generously hosted by the Turkish Govern- action, the 2009 Alliance Forum saw the launch of
ment in the magnificent city of Istanbul, was a a number of key projects and strategic partnerships.
success for many different reasons. Two points The reader will find in the following pages greater
deserve particular mention: information on the contents of the discussions, on
the current status of the commitments made a year
Firstly, this year we asked our closest partners –
ago in Madrid and on new initiatives presented and
particularly international organizations which form
launched for the first time in Istanbul.
part of our Group of Friends community and civil
society groups – to assume joint ownership of the Regarding the way forward, Istanbul has already
Forum. We invited them to co-organize working provided a number of clear indications of the
sessions, to engage with us in joint projects to be priorities that will guide our work in the run-up
presented at the Forum, and to make common to the Rio Forum of the Alliance in 2010. Let me
commitments. We wanted them to have a strong highlight five of them:
stake in the Forum and I am happy to say that we
• Enlarging the global scope of the Alliance
succeeded, thanks to our common efforts!
and streamlining and consolidating National
Moreover, the second Forum successfully reflected Plans and Regional Strategies for intercultural
what we have achieved during the journey from dialogue.
Madrid to Istanbul: the tasks carried out to imple-
• Making education and youth top priority areas
ment our 2007-2009 Action Plan and the progress
of action for the Alliance.
made in achieving the Madrid outcomes.
• Strengthening the role played by civil society
The Istanbul Forum met four main objectives: and the private sector in addressing cultural
diversity issues and developing closer coopera-
• Providing a platform for an open, inclusive and
tion at all levels.
global dialogue among a wide range of players
• Developing joint projects at local, regional
involved in promoting good governance of cul-
and international level, especially through city
tural diversity and intercultural understanding
diplomacy initiatives aimed at promoting better
and cooperation. These players include political
intercultural understanding and preventing
leaders, heads of international and multilateral
mounting tensions and the rise of extremism.
bodies, religious leaders, as well as representa-
tives of the corporate sector, the media, youth • Reinforcing the voice of the Alliance within
and civil society. the international community, and making it a
reliable, fully operational soft-power tool for a
• Showcasing the Alliance as a platform for
global partnership for peace.
dialogue that delivers.
In Istanbul many participants expressed concern
• Presenting the Alliance as a global matchmaker
that the severe economic and financial crisis that
by connecting innovative, groundbreaking
has stricken the world may carry with it risks
grassroots initiatives with policy makers and
of increased hostility towards the “other”, often
potential funders who can help scale up these
perceived as the cause of all evils or at least as an
projects and give them global prominence.
obstacle to solutions. Moreover, others insist that
• Highlighting the political leverage of the Alli-
the persistence of conflicts of a political nature
ance, by showcasing the strong commitment of
puts strong limitations to the Alliance’s outreach.
its members to turn its political objectives into
"glocal" deliverables. We must have realistic expectations about the
Alliance and work to turn its goals into achieve-
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ments. The Alliance is there to help prevent To help feed future reflections on the way
divides, to promote good governance of cultural forward, I prepared and presented to the Forum
diversity and build more inclusive societies - a collection of texts containing my ideas and
societies based on equality, dignity and respect for insights about the challenge of managing cultural
human rights, within a more balanced world. diversity in a world of increasingly diverse societ-
ies. It sheds light on some of the key issues related
There are signs around us that dialogue, together
to the Alliance of Civilizations’ mandate, includ-
with a multilateral and multi-stakeholder ap-
ing the role of religion in supporting intercultural
proach, may get a welcome boost. I have been
dialogue and reconciliation, the challenge of
impressed by the intensity of the many action-ori-
integrating minorities, the need to promote de-
ented discussions that developed during the two
mocracy, pluralism and inclusive societies, as well
days of the Forum in various formats and from
as the central role of human rights in fostering
different perspectives. I believe that the Alliance
respect for cultural diversity. I called it “The Road
has the power to mobilize high level, high profile
from Madrid to Istanbul and Beyond”. Let us
commitments in support of innovative cross-cul-
move forward, because emergencies will not wait.
tural projects and dialogue that generate greater
And let’s keep united and firm in our conviction
intercultural understanding. I believe that the Al-
that we can change the world.
liance is in a key position to galvanize support by
governments (particularly GoF members) as well
as by the corporate sector, international organiza-
tions and civil society, with a view to developing a
number of joint initiatives. I also believe that the
Alliance of Civilizations is a unique example of
the way in which the United Nations can adapt to
emerging challenges.
Jorge Sampaio
UN High Representative for the
Alliance of Civilizations
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INTROdUCTION
The Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations implementation of existing projects, launching
mobilized a wide range of committed partners, of new programs, conclusion of new partner-
including governments, international organiza- ship agreements, fresh developments in national
tions, media, civil society, youth and religious and regional initiatives designed to achieve the
leaders. From 6-7 April 2009, nearly 2,000 collective goals. The report then focuses on the
participants – among them several Heads of deliberations of the Group of Friends, which sup-
Government, over 50 ministers, as well as policy- ports the Alliance, looking at the main themes of
makers, foundations, media and grassroots leaders interest for ministers and heads of international
from around the world – convened at the Cirağan organizations and the way focal points in national
Palace Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, to forge new administrations and partner institutions organize
partnerships, generate ideas aimed at building their work. It further introduces the major inno-
trust and cooperation among diverse communities vation of the Istanbul Forum - the Marketplace of
and advance the Alliance of Civilizations’ goals. Ideas - and presents at some length how the youth
The Forum also served as an opportunity to take have been uniquely involved in that major event.
stock of initiatives developed by the Alliance, to
Against that background of achievements, institu-
showcase practical projects in collaboration with
tional developments and innovative practices, the
civil society and corporate partners and to launch
report then sheds light on the many lively debates,
new programs.
which took place from dawn to dusk, from ex-
The Alliance of Civilizations promotes “a dialogue changes between top political leaders to multifac-
that delivers”, a dialogue supported and pro- eted working sessions involving representatives of
longed by concrete action, with an impact on all stakeholders in the Alliance’s process. It offers
citizens’ lives. It is therefore only natural that the a summary of the main points at issue and conclu-
report should start with a review of the practical sions as well as a selection of quotes.
outcomes of the Forum: progress made in the
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9
OUTCOMES OF THE FORUM
Existing Projects: Progress and Currently, each email alert generates an average of
7 direct inquiries.
Future directions
The RRMM project concluded a number of
The Forum provided participants with an
partnerships in Istanbul with key organizations
insider’s look into the work of the Alliance of
including the Anna Lindh Foundation, the Euro-
Civilizations, with progress reports on its main
pean Commission, Search for Common Ground,
activities and achievements since the Madrid
Gallup, and the International Center for Journal-
Forum, held in January 2008. The feedback
ists. An announcement to collaboratively launch
and input received in Istanbul will help shape
a Rapid Response Media Mechanism for the
these initiatives, ensuring that they continue to
Euro-Mediterranean region with the European
respond to needs on the ground. The Alliance
Commission and the Anna Lindh Foundation
has also benefited from the insights of partners
was made and integrated into the wider initiative
who can help increase the reach and impact of
named “Restore Trust, Rebuild Bridges”, jointly
Alliance projects. Existing initiatives presented
put forward in the aftermath of the Gaza crisis by
and discussed at the Forum include:
the Anna Lindh Foundation and the Alliance
Rapid Response Media Mechanism (see below).
The Alliance of Civilizations’ Rapid Response Alliance of Civilizations Media Fund
Media Mechanism (RRMM) was launched at the
The Alliance of Civilizations Media Fund expands
first Forum of the Alliance in Madrid, in January
the production of entertainment media, television,
2008. At the core of RRMM is an online resource
and new media content that challenges common
of experts for journalists covering stories about
stereotypes and exposes audiences to more bal-
cultural, religious and political tensions between
anced representations of regions and cultures that
communities, and across borders. This resource,
are often ignored or negatively portrayed in mass
called Global Expert Finder (www.globalexpert-
media. In Istanbul, the Media Fund unveiled a
finder.org) connects media professionals with
three-part strategy, which includes: a. conducting
leading analysts and commentators on inter-
research to increase understanding of the impact
cultural crises and their likely long-term impact.
of media on attitudes and behavior through a
Since the launch, the resource has grown to over
research project at Harvard University, MIT, and
100 experts. On average, between 2-3 email alerts
the New School University; b. raising awareness
are sent every month to a constantly growing list
of the research findings through a global media-
of media contacts (currently over 7,000) to alert
industry-targeted campaign to garner additional
journalists about intercultural-related issues they
support of media industry leaders for the Media
might want to cover and offering names of GEF
Fund; and c. producing and distributing content
experts prepared to comment on these issues.
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