Source: UN News: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 00:02 AM
As the year 2025 draws to a close, geopolitical cleavages are deepening – North and South, East and West, everywhere. In this background, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is completing 20 years. On this occasion, a forum is being organized in Riyadh city of Saudi Arabia, in which issues like dealing with challenges like intolerance, hate speech and messages and the struggle for mutual respect in a multi-polar world will be discussed. UN coalition 11th global forum It is being held on 14-15 December in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, in which governments, civil society, youth leaders, women peacebuilders and media workers will participate. Its theme is: Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity – Advancing a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World. What does this mean for you? Intolerance and xenophobia are prevalent in many countries and regions of the world. Is on the rise. Cultural and religious differences are being weaponized to justify violence and exclusion. Hate speech, especially online, is on the rise, deepening the lack of trust and undermining social cohesion. In this environment, UNAOC The mission of UNAOC – to promote mutual respect and understanding between cultures and religions – has never been more important. Why was the UN alliance, UNAOC, established? This alliance was born in the shadow of tragedy. Following the 9/11 attacks in the United States and the subsequent bombings in Bali, Madrid, London, and Istanbul, Spain and Turkey co-sponsored an initiative to bridge the divide. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, founded this UN coalition in 2005 with a focus on preventing identity-based conflicts and turning diversity into a source of strength, Not as an excuse for violence. UN News/Eileen Travers
What does this alliance do?The motto of the UN Alliance for Civilizations is: Many Cultures, One Humanity. Over the past two decades, the UN Coalition has emerged as a leading platform for intercultural dialogue, focusing on youth engagement and dialogue, education, media literacy, migration, combating hate speech and messaging, among other areas. From empowering women as peace mediators to harnessing the unifying power of sports and the arts, the UN Coalition has Has worked on projects that challenge stereotypes, prevent extremism and promote inclusion. The Forum’s network of advocates and supporters includes hundreds of peacebuilders who are active in bringing about change in many parts of the world. What’s happening in Riyadh? Held on 14-15 December, the Forum will focus on the following events: High-level meeting of the UNAOC Friends Group, which has 161 members. Youth Forum, Featuring activists who are making a difference in their communities. Special sessions on pressing issues, such as AI-driven deliberate misinformation and disinformation, women on the front lines of peace efforts, migration, human dignity and tackling hate messages. Additionally, there will be a youth video festival featuring creative voices aimed at tackling xenophobia and promoting diversity. What outcomes are expected from this Forum? During the Forum, the ‘Riyadh Declaration’ is expected to be adopted, which will outline the next chapter of UNAOC. New partnerships and agreements will be announced for the year 2026, and recommendations will be included in the Action Plan for 2027-2031. Twenty years later, UNAOC’s message is clear: dialogue is not a luxury – it is a constant division. A lifeline for humanity in a world struggling with the disease. Where can I find information about this meeting? A UN News team will be present in Riyadh to cover the meeting and will provide news and interviews from there. Live broadcasts and broadcasts web tv Video packages and articles, UNIFIED Will be available on.