A Joint call for Solidarity, Compassion and Unity
The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Miguel Moratinos, and the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, express their grave concern over the increase in stigma, hate speech and hate crimes targeting individuals and groups wrongfully vilified and perceived to be… (read more)
Joint Statement by United Nations Interagency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development (IATF) with the endorsement of the IATF Multi-Faith Advisory Council
In the face of the global crisis unleashed by COVID-19, unprecedented in recent history, the UN Interagency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development expresses its deep concern about… (read more.)
Unity, compassion, and solidarity in a time of crisis
UNAOC brings stories of solidarity and compassion amid the current pandemic from its global community of alumni and programme participants. As we grapple with this new reality, we are reminded that we can only overcome this together as #OneHumanity.
More Than One Story
In Sweden, we have not experienced the same mandatory lockdowns that many other countries have had to face. Our youth centers and offices are still open, as are primary schools. Yet many people are staying home to protect themselves and loved ones. Many of our youth...
Protective Masks for Everyone
A group of women from Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, have sought to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic by hand-making protective face masks for people in their communities. Valentina Gagić-Lazić, one of the founders of the association uniting the group of women,...
Mindfulness in times of COVID-19: nurturing inner peace and self-care
When the state of alarm was announced in Spain on March 13, my colleague Pilar and I immediately started discussing how we could serve our communities in these moments of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the confinement. Being both of us...
How waste pickers in Delhi, India, are affected by COVID19
“I went to my sister’s place,” Rama said. “She told me, ‘I have two kilos of rice left. Let’s just divide it up.’” That’s what they did. Divided up the rice, cooked it with salt and made it last for two days. When I called her up, she was brewing tea leaves for...
Online bread-making for solidarity
Now more than ever, we need something to connect and unite us, to help us feel the support of others and overcome loneliness. Bread-making, with its simplicity and universal symbols, is a powerful act of getting people together and coming up with collective ideas and...
Giving Togetherness
The restrictions that came with the Corona crisis demanded great sacrifices from all people. At the same time, they showed us clearly that we are all affected in the same way, regardless of our origin, religion, or skin color. The feasts that people celebrate every...
Protecting the marginalized in the time of Corona
It has been few weeks since Sri Lanka went into lockdown. While the situation has not spiraled out of control, we’ve still seen many cases, and a few deaths reported. The measures implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19, however, has taken its toll on people,...
Connecting online to build peace: endless possibilities for new virtual experiences
As a peacebuilding pracademic, I reflect daily on how to continue positively transforming our world. With many of us now at home, the opportunity to pause and analyze who we are, where we are now, and where we want to go is even more possible. In this moment,...
Socially distant but spiritually connected
The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom is all about connectivity. Immediately, we moved all of our in-person interactions to digital access. The central office is providing access to the online platform, training, and scheduling for all chapter meetings. The members are so...
Barikama means resistance
Despite all of the suffering and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are inspiring stories of what happens when communities come together amid a crisis. Recently, I came across a story from the Guardian about African migrants delivering food to local...
Taking responsibility for the actions of others
“The virus will come and go, yet discrimination will always remain” was the phrase we took as the starting point for our debate. The quote was taken from a viral video circulating on social media, in which an Italian woman described her country’s current situation....
COVID-19: the case of Uganda
Since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Uganda, some of the communities in northern Uganda have believed that the virus was caused by evil spirits, which resulted in the performance of rituals to “push the spirits back to the West.” Many foreigners within the...
A reminder to pause, contemplate, and reflect
In Australia, the COVID-19 pandemic response has resulted in the upping of security and emergency health measures as the Australian Government follows best practice, relying on its health experts for the unprecedented measures it has taken to contain the spread of...
Love4Love
One of the side effects of this whole COVID-19 situation that I’m observing is that, not surprisingly, it’s intensifying some ever-existing problems. I could list many of them, but what I feel the urgency to mention is the situation of those women who are victims of...
Healing a broken health system: opportunities from a pandemic
I believe that health is the base of equity. I’ve spent my career advocating for our most vulnerable populations and working inside the health industry to develop more equitable systems. The COVID-19 pandemic exposes the weaknesses that exist across our societies and...
Promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding amid the pandemic
Over the past few months, even before the current pandemic, Unistream has been working hard to adapt its curriculum and programs in ways that integrate online learning and remote work. While the Coronavirus has necessitated a swift transition from physical to virtual...
#OneHumanity- Our Story of Unity and Strength in Uncertain Times
In response to the growing health crisis, we have witnessed an impressive and essential shift in how schools educate their pupils. The creative use of online teaching has become the central method of education. Educators around the world have created and shared...
Quarantine in the Amazon
Vaga Lume is an organization that promotes literacy for children in the Amazon, impacting the lives of over twelve thousand children every year. One of the things we do in new situations, as is the case of the COVID-19 emergency, is to listen to the people we support...
About the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
“In these troubled times, the Alliance is a unique and inclusive platform for Member States, the private sector, youth, civil society and the media to exchange views and commit to dialogue and new partnerships. It is closely aligned with my own priorities and the vision that I have outlined in my prevention agenda.” – H.E. Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General