Two thematic platforms – both aiming at fostering joint practical cooperation between countries of the UNAOC Group of Friends, on issues related to the UNAOC mandate and objectives – have been created until now, one on media literacy; the other on how to bridge the divide between faith-inspired actors in the field of humanitarianism and international cooperation.
The idea for thematic platforms stems from the observation that a mere exchange of views is not enough to create trust and can in some cases even be counter-productive as words are often not followed by acts. On the other hand, experience shows that joint practical cooperation succeeds at bridging gaps that are perceived as irreconcilable on an conceptual level
The thematic platform on Media Literacy ‘Developing Inclusive Intercultural Societies through Media Literacy’ is currently exploring a first possible outcome of the platform in the form of a resource guide focusing on Internet blogs and representation.
Under the title “Bridging the divide in development and humanitarian work: how inter-communal engagement advances intercultural understanding and improves aid effectiveness” the second thematic platform is sponsored by the Government of Switzerland.