At a time of intense warfare in the world, Portugal has been hosting a United Nations conference aimed at helping to establish global peace.
The 10th UNAOC Global Forum, held this week in Cascais, brought together a group known as ‘friends’ of the Alliance of Civilisations (AOC)’, with political and religious leaders, representatives of national and regional organisations, and members of secular societies. Groups of academics, youths, journalists and donor agencies and foundations were present at the meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Renowned as one of the most peaceful countries on the planet, Portugal was an appropriate venue.
Speaking about the world in general, Antonio Guterres, the former Portuguese prime minister, now secretary-general of the United Nations, said at the opening of the forum: “We are more united by our common fate than divided by our distinct identities. In every corner of the world we see the social fabric under serious strain. The escalation of conflicts, the increase in social tensions, and the spread of hate speech are just some of the manifestations of this crisis of confidence that affects human and international relations.”
Among the 1,800 people attending the forum were Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and Spain’s King Filipe Vl.
Various speakers addressed a number of key peace and security issues, including bridging aggressive regional divides, promoting international harmony, and restoring trust among nations.
Guterres said that “the absence of peace is leading to an erosion of trust among international institutions and societies.” Trust, he continued, has become an increasingly scarce resource in a globalised world where information circulates with unprecedented speed through social networks. Hate speech, amplified by digital platforms, undermines relationships between people and communities, exacerbating divisions and creating a sense of insecurity.
In appealing for peace, Guterres cited the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of innocent people, including a large percentage of women and children, have been killed, critically injured, or forced to flee their homes. Guterres said that In addition to ending armed conflicts, peace involves an environment of dialogue, respect and reconciliation between different cultures.
The conference ended with a 25-paragraph declaration of much-needed innovative actions. These included the use of AI to influence inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue. AI could also combat disinformation, misinformation and hate speech, while strengthening factual integrity.
Leading participants at the forum pledged to:
+ Emphasise the need to combat all forms of religious intolerance.
+ Acknowledge the central role of inclusive, quality and transformative education in promoting dialogue, peace and human rights.
+ Recognise the role 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.
Written by Len Port
