On 14–15 December, Riyadh will host the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), bringing together governments, civil society, youth leaders, women peacebuilders, and media representatives. The Forum’s theme, “UNAOC: Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity – Advancing a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World,” underscores the Alliance’s ongoing mission to foster intercultural and interreligious understanding amid rising global intolerance and xenophobia. Cultural and religious differences are increasingly exploited to justify violence and exclusion, while online hate speech deepens mistrust and undermines social cohesion, making UNAOC’s work more urgent than ever.
UNAOC was created in response to global acts of terror, including the 9/11 attacks in the United States and subsequent bombings in Bali, Madrid, London, and Istanbul. Launched in 2005 by then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Alliance aims to prevent identity-based conflicts and transform diversity into a source of strength rather than division. Guided by the motto “Many Cultures. One Humanity,” UNAOC has become a leading UN platform for intercultural dialogue, engaging in youth programs, education, media literacy, migration issues, and countering hate speech. Its initiatives empower women as peace mediators, leverage sport and art to promote inclusion, and challenge stereotypes, creating a global alumni network of hundreds of peacebuilders.
The Riyadh Forum will feature a high-level meeting of the UNAOC Group of Friends, now comprising 161 members, and the Youth Forum, highlighting alumni who have driven change in their communities. Thematic sessions will address pressing issues such as AI-driven disinformation, women at the frontlines of peace, migration and human dignity, and combating hate speech. The PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival will showcase creative projects that counter xenophobia and promote diversity.
The Forum is expected to adopt the Riyadh Declaration, outlining UNAOC’s next chapter, and announce new partnerships and agreements for 2026 and beyond. Recommendations from the meeting will feed into the Alliance’s 2027–2031 Plan of Action. After twenty years of work, UNAOC continues to emphasize that dialogue is essential, not optional, in navigating an increasingly fragmented world. The UN media team will cover the Forum, with live and on-demand broadcasts available on WebTV and broadcast-quality video packages on UNifeed.
