Harnessing the ability of synthetic intelligence (AI) and combatting hate speech and mis- and disinformation are a part of the plan to bolster peace and mutual understanding as Heads of State and Authorities, together with kings, presidents and prime ministers from Cabo Verde, Senegal and Spain, unanimously adopted the Cascais Declaration.
Named for town internet hosting the UN Alliance for Civilizations tenth International Discussion board from 25 to 27 November, the declaration outlines a spread of actions and focuses on options to a present panorama of eroding belief and rising antisemitism, nationalism and on-line hate.
“These are very tough instances,” stated UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the discussion board’s opening session. “In such a situation, we want peace” now, in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan and Ukraine and past.
The adoption of the declaration is the centrepiece of the tenth International Discussion board, which included a dynamic youth forum and film festival on Monday, its Intercultural Innovation Hub ceremony on Tuesday and vibrant panels all through, tackling present challenges, from a spike in antisemitism to the ability of younger individuals.
“We want voices and actions throughout all ranges,” together with in communities, on-line and throughout cultures and establishments, utilizing all instruments out there, Mr. Guterres stated.
Be taught extra concerning the UN Alliance of Civilizations and its International Discussion board in our explainer here.
UN Secretary-Common António Guterres delivers remarks to the Excessive-level Ministerial Assembly of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Group of Mates, in Cascais, Portugal.
Highlights of the Cascais Declaration
The 25-paragraph declaration spotlighted a set of revolutionary actions and keys to unleashing this badly wanted peace. It famous the potential use of AI as a device to advance intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and harassed the significance of combatting disinformation, misinformation and hate speech whereas strengthening data integrity.
The Cascais Declaration additionally harassed the significance of intergenerational dialogue for peace, sustainable growth and human rights; famous the contribution of “sports activities diplomacy” as a device for selling dialogue and emphasised the necessity to help and strengthen the position of ladies as negotiators, mediators and peacemakers.
By its provisions, world leaders and companions pledged to:
- Emphasise the necessity to fight all types of non secular intolerance
- Acknowledge the central position of inclusive, high quality and transformative training in selling dialogue, peace and human rights
- Recognise the position that non secular leaders can play in battle mediation and growth cooperation
- Underline the constructive influence that secure, orderly and common migration can have on international locations of origin and vacation spot, together with by means of selling cultural pluralism and encourage the inventive imaginative and prescient of younger individuals to stop xenophobia and spotlight constructive narratives about cultural variety, social inclusion and mobility
- Be aware of the adoption of the Pact for the Future, which recognises the position of reinvigorated multilateralism and the significance of the voice of spiritual leaders and faith-based organizations in selling a tradition of peace
The declaration additionally harassed the significance of encouraging the implementation of the UN Plan of Motion to safeguard non secular websites and known as for the implementation of suggestions and commitments that shall be made on the UN International Convention on Safeguarding Spiritual Websites, to be convened on Wednesday through the tenth International Discussion board.
Struggle in Gaza is just not civilization
Forward of the declaration’s adoption, the UN chief and world leaders took the ground, together with Prime Minister Aminata Touré of Senegal, who drew consideration to the continued devastating battle in Gaza.
“As we witness what is going on in Gaza, with greater than 42,000 victims, largely civilians, what does civilization imply in such context?” she requested. “Is civilization about ‘you kill one among mine, I’ll kill 34.16 of yours,’ which is, to date, the retaliation fee of Israel in opposition to the unacceptable, extensively condemned assaults of October 2023. Don’t the insufferable scenes we see on tv make any dialogue on civilization look out of contact?”
She stated there is no such thing as a different technique to take care of civilization than dialogue based mostly on equal rights embedded within the UN Charter and worldwide framework.
King Don Felipe VI of Spain instructed delegates that “within the twenty first century, diplomacy is a device of peace, however its conventional instruments are outdated and have to be supplemented with new spheres of motion, extra boldness, creativity and pragmatism.”
‘We should elevate our imaginative and prescient’
“We should elevate our imaginative and prescient to extra deeply perceive what unites us,” King Don Felipe VI stated. “The Alliance of Civilizations is the implementation of what’s generally known as the diplomacy of values, tearing down partitions and constructing bridges,” he added. “Our actions should transcend convention rooms, to high school, locations the place individuals collect and {the marketplace}.”
On this regard, he stated, social media is potential as a catalyst on this regard, he stated, pointing to the Alliance’s Youth Solidarity Fund, which was featured on day one of the tenth International Discussion board.
Nonetheless, a fantastic deal extra must be completed, he stated. At a time when dehumanisation is a rising drawback, he emphasised that efforts should goal at eliminating stereotypes and guaranteeing that the wealth of human variety is useful for everybody.
‘Rebuilding belief is important’
In an analogous vein, UN Secretary-Common Guterres stated that the absence of peace is resulting in an erosion of belief, making the Alliance of Civilizations’s work extra essential than ever earlier than.
“Rebuilding belief is our important job,” he stated.
“Hate-filled frenzies are perpetuating stereotypes and misconceptions,” the UN chief stated. Unchecked digital platforms and AI have endowed hate speech with a velocity and attain unseen earlier than. We should rein in hate speech and disinformation spreading on-line.”
Subsequent step: A worldwide alliance for peace
The Alliance’s Excessive Consultant Miguel Ángel Moratinos renewed a name for an alliance for peace to place an finish to violence and extremism and wars within the twenty first century.
“Biodiversity must 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 stated, emphasising that the Alliance is the very best platform to take action.
Keep tuned for extra updates because the tenth International Discussion board continues, with the Intercultural Innovation Hub ceremony happening in a while Tuesday and classes convening by means of Wednesday on present points, from sports activities diplomacy and spiritual mediation for peace to the mushy energy of AI and leveraging the position of ladies peacemakers.
Social circus for social change
Circus Zambia focuses on social change, together with gender equality and feminine empowerment.
How do you make peace? There are dozens of grassroots examples from around the globe that shall be on stage on Tuesday night at a ceremony on the sidelines of the tenth International Discussion board, hosted by the Intercultural Innovation Hub, an initiative pushed by the UN Alliance of Civilizations and automobile big the BMW Group with help from the tech firm Accenture.
Reward Chansa, co-founder and inventive director of Circus Zambia is working for social change, beginning within the crime-ridden neighbourhood of Chibolya outdoors the capital, Lusaka, the place he grew up.
“The imaginative and prescient is to make younger individuals realise 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 instructed UN Information.
This 12 months, Circus Zambia is amongst 10 non-governmental organizations from around the globe who shall be recognised on the ceremony.
Ilka Horstmeier, of the BMW Group, stated Circus Zambia is a wonderful instance of spreading the messages of the UN Alliance of Civilizations internationally.
“They actually make it occur for younger youngsters,” she stated. “With circus actions, they construct up belief in themselves. We actually need to put money into these youngsters. They’re the long run.”
Watch the Intercultural Innovation Hub ceremony stay on UN Net TV here.
Reward Chansa is the co-founder of Circus Zambia.
