Representatives from WAGGGS and other youth organizations around the world developed a joint strategy and recommendations at the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Pre-forum Youth event in Istanbul. The outcomes were presented at the second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations from 6 to 8 April where global leaders such as the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. discussed ways to advance intercultural understanding. 

The Pre-Forum Youth event recommendations focussed on the areas of education, migration, media and inter-cultural exchange and became the main discussion topic of the first high-level plenary session. You can download a summary of the recommendations which were presented to the forum from this page.

WAGGGS representatives contributed with their experience and expertise to the working group on education held during the Pre-Forum Youth event.

AoC Youth Strategy

Participants at the Pre-Forum Youth Event also discussed the AoC Youth Strategy, which outlines the first steps to include youth input at all levels of action and decision-making. These steps include:

• raising awareness of youth of decision and policy-makers at all levels of the governments and civil society
• strengthening the capacity of youth to effectively implement initiatives to promote intercultural dialogue
• sharing information by developing mechanisms and networks to facilitate exchanges

There was also a space to share best practice on intercultural understanding initiatives and to identify outstanding projects. The Amahoro Amani Peace project, set up by Guides and Scouts in Africa to promote peace in the Great Lakes region, was presented to the plenary by a WAGGGS representative.

During the Pre-Forum Youth Event, a WAGGGS representative, together with other representatives of international Youth NGOs, successfully lobbied to add an additional observer place for international Youth NGOs in the UN AoC Youth Advisory Committee.

Working session on intercultural understanding

WAGGGS selected to attend the UN Alliance of Civilizations

The Forum aims to develop joint initiatives and launch new programmes that advance intercultural understanding.

The Youth Event ‘Building a global movement: youth for the Alliance of civilizations’ will be held on Saturday 4 April and Sunday 5 April, before the Forum itself which is held on Monday 6 April and Tuesday 7 April.

The aim of the Alliance is to support, through a network of partnerships, the development of projects that promote understanding and reconciliation among cultures globally.