Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations

A powerful network of opinion leaders, heads of international organizations, corporations, media, foundations, civil society, religious groups and youth will convene at the Istanbul Forum. The event will also provide new opportunities for policy-makers, funders and grassroots organizations to work together to develop practical projects.

The Istanbul Forum follows the success of the inaugural Alliance Forum which was held in Madrid , Spain , in January 2008. Like Madrid , the Istanbul Forum will be firmly action-oriented, with an emphasis on delivering concrete projects and practical outcomes. A number of high-profile initiatives will be presented, including:

A cluster of Euro-Mediterranean projects aimed at restoring trust and rebuilding bridges in this region, in the wake of the Gaza crisis

Café Salam, a highly innovative technology with a unique application that will allow university students in different cities around the world to engage in intercultural dialogue

An initial showcasing of the Alliance Fellowship Program to facilitate meaningful exchanges of young leaders from a number of countries and establish working relationships between them

Plural +, a youth film festival focused on migration themes to be launched in partnership with the International Organization for Migration

The Alliance of Civilizations Media Fund will outline its future strategy and a range of partnerships including with YouTube, Participant Media, Summit Entertainment and International Creative Management

The Silatech project, which is using innovative technology and partnerships to connect young people with employment opportunities in the Middle East , will unveil its three-year benchmarks and specific areas of focus

The Global Model United Nations (GMUN) 2010, a world-class student diplomacy training on the theme of the Alliance of Civilizations

Doing Business in a Multi-cultural World – Challenges and Opportunities, a joint report of the Alliance of Civilizations and the UN Global Compact showcasing a range of best practices and case studies for companies to use in responding to the diversity of today”s business environments

The Charter of Compassion, an international campaign, led by Alliance High-level Group Member Karen Armstrong, to unite the world religions and launch initiatives in support of a call for compassion in societies around the world

The launch of Mapping Media Education Policies Around the World, a joint publication by the Alliance and UNESCO on media education policies

A campaign to mobilize global citizens to engage in intercultural actions in their local communities

A new set of partnerships with the International Labour Office, the Ibero-American Community, the Commonwealth, l” Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and the Communidades de Pa?ses de L?ngua Portuguesa – CPLP (Community of Portuguese speaking countries) will be signed with announcements of future joint initiatives

A unique Marketplace of Ideas session to showcase the most innovative and successful grassroots projects aimed at transcending cultural divides and building peace.

Further, major expansions in three ongoing projects of the Alliance will be made public:

· The AoC Rapid Response Media Mechanism, an online resource featuring experts on intercultural issues whom the media can turn to in times of international crises. A major partnership with the European Commission and the Anna Lindh Foundation for the development of a Rapid Response Mechanism in the Euromed region

· The Alliance of Civilizations Clearinghouse, an online educational tool on multiple issues aimed at improving cross-cultural understanding; two new clearinghouses – on education about diverse religions and beliefs and on global initiatives to mobilize young people toward advancing intercultural understanding – will be launched.

· The results of the AoC Youth Solidarity Fund will be showcased: innovative youth-led projects aimed at building bridges across diverse cultures

Note to Editors

For more information about the Alliance of Civilizations Forum, please visit the official Forum website: www.aocistanbul.org or the Alliance of Civilizations website: www.unaoc.org.

Documents that can be found on the website include:

· Basic information on logistics, Forum venue and services

· Contacts to arrange interviews with participants

· Background information about the Alliance

· Recent updates

For general information about the Alliance of Civilizations and the Forum, please contact: Emmanuel Kattan (tel: +1 917 238 2043; [email protected] ) or Daanish Masood (tel: +1 917 847 3084; [email protected])

Media Accreditation 

Media wishing to cover the Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations should complete the accreditation form below and return it to the Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information by March 31st (see contact details below).

Members of the national press should fill in the accreditation form below and attach a copy of their press card (members of the media without press cards should attach to their application a letter of authorization from their media organization as well as a copy their official ID card).

Members of the media who are Turkish residents should fill in the accreditation form below and attach a copy of their press card.

Members of the foreign media who are based abroad should fill in the accreditation form and attach a copy of their press card, a letter of authorization from their media organization, and a copy of the first page of their passport.

For additional information about accreditation, please contact:

Ms Handan Barlas

Directorate General of Press and Information

Istanbul Office

Tel: +90 212 512 20 13 ext. 3; +90 212 512 5872

Fax: +90 212 512 8946; +90 212 513 9633

[email protected]

Forum Venue

The Istanbul Forum will take place at:

Ciragan Palace Kempinski

Ciragan Caddesi 32

Besiktas

34349 Istanbul

Tel: +90 212 326 4646

Fax: +90 212 259 6687