The United Nations Alliance of Civilisations and faith-based organisations

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

The United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) was established in 2005 as the entity responsible for preventing conflict through the promotion of intercultural and inter-religious dialogue. Articulated around five pillars: education, youth, media, migration, and strengthening women’s mediation capacities in situations with a cultural and religious dimension, UNAOC maintains constant and fluid relations with faith-based organizations. 

Intervention of Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos on the importance of faith-based NGOs at the UN

Since January 2020, UNAOC has co-chairs together with the UN Office of the Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the UN Population and Development Fund the UN Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development (UN-IATF). The team comprises more than twenty UN entities that exchange information and identify opportunities for cooperation on the occasion of intergovernmental and other meetings on issues related to religion and development.

The task force is supported by a multi-faith advisory council of faith-based organizations comprising nearly forty organizations. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the working group issued a statement that received the support of all members of the advisory council. Since then, the relationship between the Working Group and the Advisory Council has grown closer, for example through substantive meetings that have deepened awareness of the respective mandates and activities of the UN entities in the Working Group among the faith-based organizations on the Advisory Council and vice versa. It is foreseen that in the course of this year, organizations from the Working Group and the Advisory Council will join forces in organizing events around different intergovernmental meetings.

UNAOC remains committed to continuing working closely with faith-based organizations in order to enhance synergies and seek spaces for collaboration that help promote understanding, respect, and dialogue between cultures and religions. In particular, the High Representative for UNAOC, H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, encourages society to put into practice some of the principles contained in His Holiness Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti, including the assumption of the culture of dialogue as a way forward; common collaboration as a conductor; and reciprocal knowledge as a method and criterion.

In the light of the many complex challenges facing the world today, it is more necessary than ever to continue to foster bridges of dialogue that bring us closer together in order to advance the building of just, peaceful and sustainable societies.