Bali, Indonesia
28 August 2014
Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me first express my gratitude to the Government of Indonesia for hosting this important event and especially to Mr. Tifatul Sembiring, Minister of Communication and Information Technologies and Mr. Muhammad Nuh, Chair of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO and Minister of Education and Culture.
In particular, I would also like to thank my colleague and friend, Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO for inviting me to address all of you at the closing session of the Global Media Forum.
For the last three days, we had the opportunity to listen to leaders in the field of media and communication and the importance of media in a culture of peace and dialogue and how it can contribute to the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
The debates and discussions underscored the key role that media, access to information and communication technologies play in human and social development and how they can spearhead a culture of peace and dialogue.
UNESCO and the UNAOC are both devoted to the promotion of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. We both are constantly developing action plans to support a culture of peace and non-violence through dialogue and communication across religion and culture.
When establishing UNAOC, the High-Level Group recommended the development of partnerships to advance the goals of the Alliance. Partnerships are essential to reinforce the impact of organizations with common visions and objectives. Partnerships provide a conduit for exchange of information; draw on mutual synergies and complementarities.
In first place, the High-Level Group suggested a partnership between UNAOC and UNESCO. Our joint commitment to promote dialogue among cultures and civilizations and to contribute together to a culture of peace was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.
Since the signature of our agreement, we have multiplied joint actions. We have participated in each others forums, high-level panels and highlighted each other events. We have joined our efforts to advocate for youth and students exchanges. We have supported each other in the development and dissemination of educational, cultural and scientific content to foster ethnic, religious and cultural diversity.
We highlight our efforts and collaboration on the role of the media in fostering dialogue and mutual understanding.
Both our organizations understand the role of the media and social communication in promoting values of respect and understanding among people of different cultures and religions. Media occupies a strategic position to promote a broad-based dialogue. Media shapes people’s identity and perception. The explosion in the 21st Century of communication technologies allows people to interact and share ideas on a continuing basis. They can be used negatively to strengthen stereotypes, deepen divides and incite violence among peoples.
But media has the power to help people understand how cultural and religious diversity enriches societies. They can promote peaceful coexistence as the cement of economic development and prosperity. The media in all its forms holds the potential to serve as a bridge between cultures and societies.
The constant exposure of populations to media presents an educational challenge, which has increased in the electronic and digital age. Evaluating information sources requires skills and critical thinking and is an educational responsibility the importance of which is often underestimated.
The UNAOC has been working hand in hand since its inception with UNESCO to foster an environment that allows critical views to be disseminated and to give a voice to minorities and other marginalized segments of society. Our joint initiatives have included the expansion of media education initiatives and the sharing of our respective global network of experts.
I would like to bring to your attention concrete examples of UNAOC’s work in promoting democracy and strengthening intercultural and interreligious dialogue. In the field of media, we believe that an access to fair, accurate and balanced information contributes to enhancing democratization processes.
We have been particularly active in skill and capacity building with trainings for media professionals to do better reporting and we understand the importance to use culturally sensitive resources for this purpose.
For instance, we have worked recently with Canal France International to bring together journalists from francophone Mali, Togo, Cameroun, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia along with experts on culturally sensitive issues to cover the UNAOC Bali Forum in French and Arabic.
Similarly, the UNAOC has embarked on an innovative project that monitors hate speech in the media in relation to specific cross-cultural events and incidents in several countries.
The key to improving migration coverage begins with developing journalists’ knowledge of the subject. This is why the UNAOC regularly convenes high-level migration experts and media professionals to share their ideas on best media practices and ways to support journalists as they turn these practices into habits. Last year, a high-level meeting in Paris led to concrete outcomes. We intend to organize a similar event in the African context.
By doing so, the UNAOC is taking the lead in strengthening discussion among media professionals on ways of improving standards of reporting to avoid intolerance and hate speech.
In another hand we are enhancing the efforts of PLURAL+, a youth video festival on migration, diversity and social inclusion, which recognizes youth as powerful agent of social change.
We are interested to know what you care about, UNAOC on twitter is asking you: “What are specific ways in which journalists can improve the breadth and depth of coverage of migration stories?” “Are migrants fairly covered in Media? Does Media do a good job of covering cross-cultural conflicts? “ We are interested to know your thoughts!
It is also worth noting that we are launching a Media-Friendly Glossary on migration during the last breaking session of the Forum. “It will help journalists to have both precise and media-friendly definitions of key migration concepts”
It is notable that both of our organizations have been invited by the Government of Indonesia to hold their respective Forums in Bali with overlapping sessions. It shows the commitment of Indonesia to promote tolerance and mutual respect among its diversity of faiths, ethnicities, languages and cultures.
The agenda of our Forums are examples of cooperation and synergy. I was delighted to see that UNESCO had sessions which focused on youth, gender equality, governance and especially that a plenary session was held on the contribution of Media to Peace and Dialogue. These are indeed crucial issues that are at the core of the mandate of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
The UNAOC Sixth Forum started today in Bali with the Youth Event and will officially open tomorrow in the presence of UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki moon, His Excellency Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Marty Natalegawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Foreign Ministers of Spain and Turkey, President of the General Assembly John Ashe, several high level dignitaries including of course our eminent and accomplished Director General, Ms. Irina Bokova.
With its annual forum, the UNAOC brings together a powerful network of political and corporate leaders, civil society activists, youth, journalists, foundations, international organizations, and religious leaders to agree on joint actions to improve relations across cultures, combat prejudice and build the conditions for long-term peace.
Our forum has key areas of common interest with the UNESCO Global Media Forum. We have sessions devoted to youth and media and Migration as well as sessions on social media, media conversation across lines, media coverage and migration.
Our agenda extends to discussions and debates on all aspects of the mandate of the UNAOC and will focus on the theme of “Unity in Diversity: Celebrating Diversity for Common and Shared Values.” To name just a few, we will speak about the role of women in fostering understanding among cultures, mediation in conflict-affected setting; dialogue between Eastern and Western Civilizations.
The initiative of UNESCO to focus on the role of the media in the Post-2015 development agenda spells out the importance of the availability of fair and objective information on economic, social and political progress. Media can and must contribute to a peaceful dialogue across cultures, religions and ethnicity and be a foundation of sustainable development. But to do so, it requires fairness, objectivity, freedom of expression and accessibility to all.
I welcome the Bali Road-map for Media and Development and its recommendations on both media development and media for development. A diversity of voices, respect of cultural diversity and joint efforts are essentials for the promotion of peace.
In this regards, the Alliance of Civilizations is right on target with the concern of the Post 2015 Development Agenda.
Thank you all for your attention.