The Alliance of Civilizations was established in 2005 by an initiative from the governments of Spain and Turkey under the auspices of the United Nations. A High Level Group of experts was formed by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan with a view of exploring the roots of the current polarization between the societies and cultures, and recommending an efficient work program to deal with this problem. The report issued by the High Level Group of experts presented a complete analyses and practical recommendations that can form a basis for the implementation of the work plan. On 26 April 2007 the former Portuguese prime minister Jorge Sampaio was appointed a High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to lead the implementation phase of the Alliance.
The Alliance Secretariat which represents the Alliance's workgroup - in collaboration with the countries, international and regional organizations, the civil society groups and the private sector establishments – works to rally the collective efforts to enhance the relations and common cultural ties between various societies and nations.
The High Level Group - formed of 20 renowned leaders in the field of politics, academia, civil society, international financial institutions and the media from allover the world - supervises the progress of the Alliance work, assesses the forces that contribute to fanaticism and recommends the collective work required to counter such forces.
The Group held 5 meetings from November 2005 to November 2006, at the end of which it prepared a report advocating a multi-polar approach through which the priorities of the relations between Islamic and Western communities are designated.
The recommendations of the High Level Group include, specifically, the strategies of developing the frameworks for better cooperation relations that can be encouraged to achieve the objectives of the Alliance. The Group is considering to take practical steps to strengthen the productive voices, involve the media and organize public debates in a more fruitful manner. The recommendations also propose a specific approaches and educational techniques to support the rallying of the youth, encourage the values of moderation and cooperation and advocate diversity.
The implementation plan of the Alliance based on the report of the High Level Group aims to specify the required systems and strategies of the collective work to create an atmosphere conductive to the progress of moderation, stability and development.
The Alliance Secretariat which represents the Alliance's workgroup - in collaboration with the countries, international and regional organizations, the civil society groups and the private sector establishments – works to rally the collective efforts to enhance the relations and common cultural ties between various societies and nations.
The Objectives of the Alliance
- To develop the partnership network between the countries, international organizations, the organizations of the civil society and the establishments of the private sector which share the objectives of the Alliance of Civilizations with a view to strengthen their interaction and coordination with the organization of the United Nations.
- To develop, support and highlight the projects aiming to further the understanding and rapprochement between the cultures at the international level, particularly, between the western and Islamic communities. These projects focus on the Alliance of Civilization's main areas of implementation: the youth, education, information and migration.
- To establish ties and facilitate dialogue between the communities that can work as a force of moderation and understanding during the periods of high contention and unrest between the cultures.
- To achieve these objectives the Alliance works to promote and maintain an international perception through chosen activities. At the same time it seeks to give priority to the relations between the western and Islamic communities as the polarization and common apprehensions between the cultures reach their peak in and between these communities and constitute a real threat to the international stability and security.
The High Level Group
The High Level Group was appointed by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan after intensive consultations with the two prime ministers of the two sponsor countries, Spain and Turkey. The High Level Group - formed of 20 renowned leaders in the field of politics, academia, civil society, international financial institutions and the media from allover the world - supervises the progress of the Alliance work, assesses the forces that contribute to fanaticism and recommends the collective work required to counter such forces.
The Group held 5 meetings from November 2005 to November 2006, at the end of which it prepared a report advocating a multi-polar approach through which the priorities of the relations between Islamic and Western communities are designated.
The recommendations of the High Level Group include, specifically, the strategies of developing the frameworks for better cooperation relations that can be encouraged to achieve the objectives of the Alliance. The Group is considering to take practical steps to strengthen the productive voices, involve the media and organize public debates in a more fruitful manner. The recommendations also propose a specific approaches and educational techniques to support the rallying of the youth, encourage the values of moderation and cooperation and advocate diversity.
The implementation plan of the Alliance based on the report of the High Level Group aims to specify the required systems and strategies of the collective work to create an atmosphere conductive to the progress of moderation, stability and development.
The Members of the High Level Group
Co-Chairs
- Professor Federico Mayor – Spain
- Professor Mehmet Aydin – Turkey
Middle East
- Mohammed Khatimi – Iran
- Sheikha Mouza Bint Naser Al Misnad – Qatar
North Africa
- Dr. Mohammed Sharfi – Tunisia
- Dr. Ismail Sirajuddin – Egypt
- Mr. Andrei Azolia – Morocco
West Africa
- Mr. Mustafa Niyas – Senigal
South Africa
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu – South Africa
West Europe
- Mr. Hubert Vedrine – France
- Ms. Karen Armstrong – UK
East Europe
- Prof. Vitaly Naumkin – Russian Federation
North America
- Prof. John Espozitu – USA
- Rabbi Arthur Schneier – USA
Latin America
- Mr. Enrich Iglesias – Uruguay
- Prof. Candida Mendez – Brazil
South Asia
- Dr. Nafis Sadik – Pakistan
- Ms. Chopana Bhartia – India
South East Asia
- Mr. Ali Alattas – Indonisia
East Asia
- Prof. Pan Huang – China
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