We have the pleasure to inform you that the 5th Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations will take place in Vienna, Austria, from February 26 to 28, 2013.
This forum will bring together a vast array of participants including youth, political and corporate leaders, civil society activists, representatives of faith communities, journalists, etc. to work together and agree on joint actions to improve relations across cultures and religions and build a lasting peace.
The Forum will explore on how responsible leadership can make a difference in the following three major issues:
1) Addressing the universal right to religious freedom and promoting a new religious pluralism through education
2) Media pluralism and diversity of media content and their contribution to fostering public debate, democracy and awareness of diverse opinions;
3) Shaping a new narrative for migration, integration and mobility in the global economy.
Up to 150 youth (between 18 and 35 years old) from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds with outstanding track records in intercultural dialogue and youth work will be selected as participants of the Youth Event (February 26) and the 5th UNAOC Forum (February 27 and 28) in Vienna.
The Youth Event will be output-oriented and will focus on collective reflection rather than on presentations of individual projects implemented by youth organizations at the event. In addition, it will help youth establish contacts, actively exchange and explore how they can collaborate together, before and after the Forum. Youth will be invited to multiply the results of the Youth Event and the Forum after they return home.
Aiming to launch well in advance the discussions among the youth, during the period of December 2012 – February 2013, the organizers will invite all selected youth to participate in online consultations on the Forum’s themes and start brainstorming on the elements of the Youth Recommendations to be prepared on February 26.
The draft program of the Youth Event and the 5th UNAOC Forum will be available on-line in November.
The Austrian government is offering some financial support to up to 150 youth representatives wishing to attend the UNAOC Forum in Vienna. Please see the attached application guidelines for more details and eligibility criteria. If you meet the eligibility criteria, please complete the attached application form.
The application deadline is 11:59 PM, New York time, Thursday November 1, 2012. Any application received after this time will not be considered. Send your application to viennayouth@unaoc.org.
Should you have questions about the content of this message, please do not hesitate to contact us atviennayouth@unaoc.org.
