Remarks by H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos,
High Representative for
the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
on “World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development:
Perspectives from the global UNAOC community amid the current health crisis”
Thursday 21 May 2020 | 8:30 AM – 10:AM EST
Good morning,
We hope that you are safe and in good health.
And very special thanks also to our speakers who agreed to participate in our discussion this morning. I am familiar with many of the faces I see on the screen.
Today is a special day: back in 2002, the United Nations General Assembly chose May 21st as the “World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development” in its Resolution 57/249.
It is an opportunity to celebrate our world’s many cultures and the critical role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development. Indeed, sustaining peace can only be achieved if we learn to live and accept one another, and to embrace our differences.
As we all face a global human crisis we are reminded every day how our fates is interconnected. If one neighbor, family member , friend or country is not safe then none of us is safe. We learned that our well-being and safety is linked to what happens next door. As such, there is no alternative to standing together in unity and solidarity in inclusive societies as One Humanity. Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development “building peaceful, just and inclusive societies”, is more imperative now than ever before. That is the raison d’être of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
With its motto, “Many Cultures, One Humanity,” UNAOC was created to embrace and promote cultural, ethnic and cultural diversity and religious pluralism.
With its motto, “Many Cultures, One Humanity,” UNAOC was created to embrace and promote cultural, ethnic and cultural diversity and religious pluralism. Our work aims to transition beyond tolerance to respect of the other. Amid the current crisis, we need to work even harder towards building bridges between cultures and civilizations. Every single effort from each of us constitutes one step further in the promotion of diversity.
Intercultural dialogue is at the core of our work at UNAOC and we therefore decided to invite programme partners and alumni around the world who are doing important work in the area of cultural diversity.
Today, we’d like to hear from them about their experiences during this pandemic, what it has taught them, and how they envisage our world post-COVID 19, especially in the context of the virtual world and the physical distancing we have been dealing with.
This event is part of the #OneHumanity campaign of UNAOC, through which we have collected stories of solidarity from our global community to inspire the world to stay united amid the crisis. You can learn more by visiting our website unaoc.org.
I am very keen on listening to your experiences. There is no peace, no development, no security, and no human rights without accepting and embracing the idea of strength and resilience through diversity. Our cultures are intertwined in a mosaic that shapes our world, and we are One Humanity.
Thank you again for your participation.