UCLG participated in the Third Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, promoting the work that cities can undertake for peaceful co-existence between cultures. This year’s edition of the Forum took place from 27 to 29 May, and was held in the city of Rio de Janeiro, at the invitation of the Brazilian Government.
Taking as its focus the theme ‘Bridging Cultures: Building Peace’, the Forum aimed, through its plenary and twelve thematic sessions, to address the challenge of building inclusive societies. ‘How do we build communities rooted in ‘convivencia’- living together in peace, based on trust and mutual respect?’ asked United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
‘Living together in Urban Societies’ - the thematic session organized by the UCLG Working Group on the Local Dimension of the Alliance of Civilizations and the Council of Europe, aimed to explore Ban Ki-moon’s question in its urban context. The UCLG Presidency was represented at the session by Co-President Kadir Topbas, Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey.
Other panelists at the session were the Brazilian Minister for Cities, Marcio Fortes, the Mayor of Lisbon, Portugal, Antonio Costa, the Mayor of Seville, Spain, Alfredo Sánchez Monteseirín, and the Mayor of Clichy-sous-bois, France, Claude Dilain. Participants raised three important points: that local governance has an important role to play in enhancing the diversity advantage of multi-cultural urban societies; that poverty and inequality in divided cities are challenges that must be addressed; and that new technologies and education can be instrumental in promoting a better understanding of cultural diversity.