The heads of State and Government, including kings, presidents and prime ministers of Cape Verde, Senegal and Spain, unanimously adopted the Cascais Declaration this Tuesday, a commitment to promote peace in the midst of wars, from Gaza and Lebanon to Sudan and Ukraine.
Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and combating hate speech and misinformation are part of the plan to strengthen peace and mutual understanding.
Named after the city hosting the 10th World Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations from November 25 to 27, the declaration outlines a series of actions and focuses on solutions to a current landscape of eroding trust and rising Antisemitism, nationalism and hate online.
“These are very difficult times,” declared the Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, at the opening session of the forum. “In such a scenario, we need peace” now, in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan and Ukraine and beyond.
The adoption of the declaration is the focus of the meeting, which included a dynamic youth forum and film festival on Monday, the ceremony of an Intercultural Innovation Center on Tuesday and panels throughout the event, in the that current challenges were addressed, from the rise of anti-Semitism to the power of youth.
“We need voices and actions at all levels,” including in communities, online and across cultures and institutions, using all available tools, Guterres said.
Learn more about the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and its Global Forum.
Secretary-General António Guterres delivers a speech at the High-Level Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, in Cascais, Portugal.
Highlights of the Cascais Declaration
The statement highlights the potential use of AI as a tool to advance intercultural and interreligious dialogue and underlines the importance of combating disinformation and hate speech, while strengthening the integrity of information.
The Cascais Declaration also highlighted the contribution of “sports diplomacy” as a tool to promote dialogue and underlined the need to support and strengthen the role of women as negotiators, mediators and peacemakers.
Through its provisions, world leaders and their partners committed to:
- Combat all forms of religious intolerance
- Recognize the central role of education in promoting dialogue, peace and human rights
- Recognize the role that religious leaders can play in conflict mediation and development cooperation
- Underline the positive impact that safe, orderly and regular migration can have on countries of origin and destination, including by promoting cultural pluralism, encouraging the creative vision of young people to prevent xenophobia and highlighting positive narratives about diversity cultural, social inclusion and mobility
- Take note of the adoption of the Pact for the Future, which recognizes the role of multilateralism and the importance of the voice of religious leaders and faith-based organizations in promoting a culture of peace
The declaration also underlines the importance of promoting the implementation of the United Nations Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites and calls for the implementation of the recommendations and commitments made at the United Nations World Safeguarding Conference. of Religious Places, which will be held on Wednesday during the 10th World Forum.
Gaza: any debate on civilization seems out of place
Before the adoption of the declaration, the head of the UN and world leaders spoke, including the Prime Minister of Senegal, Aminata Touré, who drew attention to the devastating war being fought in Gaza.
“As we witness what is happening in Gaza, with more than 42,000 victims, mostly civilians, what does civilization mean in this context?” he asked. “Does civilization mean You kill one of mine, I will kill 34.16 of yours, What is, so far, Israel’s rate of retaliation against the unacceptable and widely condemned October 2023 attacks? ¿Don’t the unbearable scenes we see on television make any debate about civilization seem out of place??”
He affirmed that there is no other way to approach civilization than the debate based on the equality of rights enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and in the international framework.
King Felipe VI of Spain told delegates that “in the 21st century, diplomacy is an instrument of peace, but its traditional tools are outdated and must be complemented with new spheres of action, more audacity, creativity and pragmatism.”
We must raise our vision
“We must raise our vision to understand more deeply what unites us,” said Felipe VI. “The Alliance of Civilizations is the implementation of what is known as the diplomacy of values, tearing down walls and building bridges,” he added. “Our actions must go beyond the conference rooms, to the school, to the places where people gather and to the market.”
In this sense, he said, social media has potential as a catalyst, pointing to the Alliance’s Youth Solidarity Fund, which was presented on the first day of the Forum.
However, there is still much to do, he said. At a time when dehumanization is a growing problem, he stressed that efforts must be directed at eliminating stereotypes and ensuring that the richness of human diversity is beneficial for all.
Rebuilding trust is essential
In a similar vein, UN Secretary General António Guterres stated that the absence of peace is causing an erosion of trust, which makes the work of the Alliance of Civilizations more important than ever.
“Rebuilding trust is our essential task,” he said.
“Hate-filled frenzies are perpetuating stereotypes and misconceptions,” the UN chief said. Uncontrolled digital platforms and AI have given hate speech a speed and reach never seen before. “We must stop hate speech and misinformation spreading online.”
Next step: A global alliance for peace
The high representative of the Alliance, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, renewed his call for an alliance for peace to end violence, extremism and wars in the 21st century.
“Biodiversity must be protected, but what about human diversity?” he asked.
“We have to make peace with nature, and we have to make peace with ourselves,” he stated, emphasizing that the Alliance is the best platform to achieve this.
Social circus for social change
Circus Zambia focuses on social change, including gender equality and women’s empowerment.
How is peace made? There are dozens of popular examples from around the world that will take the stage on Tuesday night in a ceremony parallel to the 10th World Forum, organized by the Center for Intercultural Innovation, an initiative promoted by the UN Alliance of Civilizations and the BMW Group, with the support of the technology company Accenture.
Gift Chansa, co-founder and artistic director of Circus Zambia, works for social change, starting in the crime-ridden Chibolya neighborhood on the outskirts of the capital, Lusaka, where he grew up.
“The vision is for young people to realize that they have the power to change their circumstances and that knowing where you come from does not determine where you go,” he told UN News.
This year, Circus Zambia is one of 10 non-governmental organizations from around the world to be recognized at the ceremony.
Ilka Horstmeier of the BMW Group said Circus Zambia is an excellent example of spreading the messages of the UN Alliance of Civilizations around the world.
“They really make it happen for the kids,” he said. “With circus activities, they gain self-confidence. We really have to invest in these children. They are the future.”
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