Twenty years later, the message of the UN Alliance of Civilizations remains unchanged: dialogue is the lifeblood of humanity. Dialogue for salvation: The UN Alliance of Civilizations turns 20 UN
In recent years, the world has been faced with deepening geopolitical fault lines – between North and South, East and West. Against this backdrop, the UN Alliance of Civilizations celebrates its twentieth anniversary by holding an international forum in Riyadh dedicated to combating intolerance, inciting hatred and strengthening mutual respect in a multipolar world.
The capital of Saudi Arabia will host the 11th UN Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations on December 14-15. The summit will bring together representatives of national governments and civil society, youth and women’s leaders, and media professionals and executives.
Unification Mission
The reason why this event has global significance is obvious: intolerance and xenophobia are on the rise around the world. Cultural and religious differences are increasingly used as justification for violence and harassment. The wave of hate speech, especially in the digital space, is increasing mistrust and eroding social cohesion. In such an atmosphere, the mission of the Alliance – promoting mutual respect and understanding between cultures and religions – becomes more relevant than ever.
History of the Alliance
The history of the creation of the Alliance goes back to the beginning of the 21st century. This organization was born in the shadow of tragedies: after the September 11 attacks in the United States and subsequent terrorist attacks in Bali, Madrid, London and Istanbul. Against this backdrop, Spain and Turkey proposed an initiative to overcome the deepening geopolitical fault lines before our eyes. The Alliance was officially launched in 2005 with the support of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan – with the goal of preventing conflicts and transforming cultural, ethnic and religious diversity into a source of strength, and not a reason for violence.
“Diversity of cultures. One humanity”
Since then, guided by the motto “Diversity of cultures. One Humanity”, the Alliance of Civilizations has become the leading UN platform for intercultural dialogue. His work spans education, media literacy, migration issues and countering hate speech. The Alliance launches projects that challenge stereotypes, prevent extremism and promote inclusion – from supporting women as mediators in peace processes to using sports and the arts as a unifying force. Today, its network of alumni includes hundreds of experts working around the world.
Forum program
The forum in Riyadh will become a meeting place for the Group of Friends of the Alliance, which unites 161 participants. The Saudi capital will also host a Youth Forum, where graduates will talk about the change they have ignited in their communities. Thematic sessions will focus on the most pressing issues of our time: disinformation generated by artificial intelligence, the role of women in peacebuilding, migration and human dignity, and combating hate speech. A special place in the cultural program of the forum will be occupied by the youth video festival PLURAL+, which honors creative voices opposing xenophobia and promoting diversity. It is expected that the outcome of the forum will be the adoption of the Riyadh Declaration, which will determine the next stage of development of the Alliance. New partnerships and agreements will be announced for 2026, as well as recommendations for the Action Plan 2027-2031. Twenty years later, the message of the UN Alliance of Civilizations remains unchanged: dialogue is the vital foundation for humanity in an increasingly fragmented world.