UN chief Antonio Guterres. UN Secretary-General calls for unity and peace at 10th Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations Culture and Education
UN Secretary-General António Guterres today addressed the 10th Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Cascais, Portugal, calling for unity and joint action in the face of growing global challenges. He stressed the importance of dialogue, inclusiveness and solidarity to restore trust and achieve peace.
Guterres thanked Portugal for hosting the forum, noting the country’s cultural traditions. “Portugal understands the value of bringing together different cultures, civilizations and traditions,” he said. The UN chief also expressed solidarity with Spain over the devastating floods in Valencia.
A world torn apart by mistrust
Guterres spoke of the rise of intolerance and mistrust around the world. “We are living through very difficult times today,” the UN chief said. The Secretary-General pointed to “cynical strategies” aimed at sowing discord in society, as well as the rise of xenophobia, racism and the use of social media as a tool for spreading hatred and disinformation.
He paid special attention to the need to establish peace in key crisis areas. “Peace in Ukraine is a just peace in accordance with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions. Peace in Gaza – with an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, effective and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance and the beginning of an irreversible process leading to a two-state solution,” he stressed.
Guterres also noted the importance of restoring peace in Lebanon, Sudan and other countries and regions.
Four key areas for restoring trust
The Secretary-General identified four priority areas that, in his opinion, will help overcome the crisis of trust and strengthen social cohesion.
First, this is the creation of “communities of trust and unity.” Guterres emphasized that building peaceful, just and sustainable societies must be based on human rights and the dignity of everyone. He noted that this requires the participation of people at all levels: from government institutions and religious leaders to representatives of marginalized groups.
“We must ensure women’s meaningful participation in decision-making, including in leadership positions. And we must listen to the voices of young people,” the UN chief said.
Second, the Secretary-General said, it is necessary to counter online hate and disinformation, which he described as a threat of unprecedented scale.
“Unchecked digital platforms and artificial intelligence have given hate speech a speed and reach we have never seen before. “The worst impulses of humanity are given a megaphone, and sometimes this leads to violence,” he warned.
Guterres recalled UN initiatives such as the Global Digital Compact, aimed at creating a safe digital space.
The Secretary-General also spoke about the need to support cultural diversity and reform international institutions, which, in his opinion, must become more fair and effective.
“The Security Council is outdated and often paralyzed. “The international financial architecture does not reflect the realities of the modern economy and has become unfair and inadequate,” he said.
Guterres emphasized the central message of the Alliance of Civilizations: the power of unity in the face of differences.
“In these turbulent times, too many believe that our differences should define us. But the most powerful strength is the realization that we are more united by a common destiny than by our individual idiosyncrasies,” he said.