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.
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