FOCAL POINTS MEETING Summary Report

Ref: GoF/Focal Points/Doha, May 2011 Date: May 24, 2011 FOCAL POINTS MEETING Doha May 2, 2011 Summary Report Introduction On the eve of the Pre-Forum with CSO (May 3-4, 2011), Focal Points and delegates met in Doha on May 2, 2011. On behalf of the host country, participants were greeted by Dr. Hassan Ibrahim Al Mohannadi, Vice-President, The Qatar Committee for Alliance of Civilizations. The UNAOC High Representative, President Sampaio, underlined the importance of the meeting in the context of both the impending Third Implementation Plan and the preparation of the Doha Forum (December 2011). He welcomed the opportunity for Focal Points to meet with the experts appointed in the context of the Forum preparation (the experts briefly introduced themselves and contributed remarks throughout the meeting) and to engage with civil society representatives in the two following days. The meeting was facilitated by Mr. Marc Scheuer, Director of the UNAOC Secretariat. On May 4, 2011, a group of about 15 Focal Points, who had stayed on to attend the Pre Forum, briefly reconvened for debriefings. 1. UNAOC National Plans: the Importance of Strengthening National Ownership For 3 years now, countries had been invited by the High Representative to develop National Plans, designed to achieve global objectives at the local level. There had been no constraints on the process, structure, strategies and policies to be pursued. Countries had been free to secure ownership and coherence in the ways most suited to their set-up, resources and circumstances. With Plans in 27 countries, a critical mass had been reached, allowing to look at the lessons learned and to study the potential for evolution of these Plans, in order to make them more efficient tools. About 15 participants (Spain, Turkey, Russian Federation, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Morocco, Kuwait, Jordan, Belgium, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, LAS, OIC, ISESCO, etc) contributed to the discussion, which confirmed a wide diversity of practices and a certain shortage of definitions, starting with the object itself: intercultural dialogue. It suggested a need to become more systematic in asking questions: Should we look for “promising” practices? What are really the intentions and the steps? Can we better learn from each other?..etc. It illustrated that a number of Plans had been a flexible way to build on a limited number of pre-existing initiatives and amplify/diversify them. The Plan helps identify the need for a legislative action and conveys necessary legal dimensions. Even in 1 a draft format, it can be an efficient guide for public measures. Where necessary, it enables the State to address single major challenges at the level of the State (youth employment in Qatar, gender equality in Tunisia, training of Imams in Jordan, etc) or of large cities (intercultural challenges in Moscow). On the other hand, the absence of a Plan does not necessarily reflect an absence of a comprehensive policy (as exemplified by the Intercultural platforms in Belgium). Experience suggests that the process is crucial: all those concerned must be involved, including relevant administrations, representatives of local authorities, civil society. Political backing at high level is indispensable, whatever form it takes. While there was a degree of caution against being too ambitious, multi-dimensionality is important: the four broad areas of action of the Alliance should preferably be addressed. Publicity (through websites) and a strong visual identification with the Alliance (through the use of appropriate logos) are important. The implementation should ideally be coordinated by a National Committee. Reviewing the implementation and feeding the results into the preparation of the next exercise are also among the conditions for efficiency. Several participants expressed an interest for measurement methods and observatories, briefly alluded to by experts, and for further exploring a link to some aspects of the MDG. A follow-up is expected here. The political backing and coordination provided by several international organizations (LAS, OIC) on the development of National Plans was much appreciated. 2. Ongoing Projects and Regional Initiatives: Update and Discussion Much of the discussion under this item focused on developments in the MENA region and the implementation of the Mediterranean Strategy. Quick updates were provided on the other topics. UNAOC Regional Strategy for the Mediterranean At the outset, President Sampaio referred to his recent visit to Egypt, where the situation on the ground is rapidly evolving. The Mediterranean Regional Strategy is more relevant than ever. An effort has been made to streamline an Action Plan, with two sets of priority projects proposed by the Alliance and by civil society partners. The document was sent to delegations. Funding is urgently needed. There followed a vivid discussion on some developments in the Region, their meaning, the challenges of democratization, the relevance of some other national experiences. As to concrete initiatives, two countries (Finland and Portugal) said they are looking at options to respond to the call of the High Representative, which they fully support. They seek the involvement of others. The OIC proposed to include in the Regional Plan four projects that it has submitted to some of its partners: a seminar on Jerusalem as a city of co-existence between Abrahamic religions, a Conference on the role of youth in the dialogue among civilizations, a Youth Forum on bridging the West-Muslim divide and a civil society Dialogue project. At the same time, the OIC Focal Point called for more resolute action against intolerance. For its part, the EU is revisiting priorities in the Mediterranean in the light of recent developments. A Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean is under preparation. The EU is ready to work with CSO with regards to the Mediterranean Regional Strategy and will look into the latest proposals of the High Representative. No promise can yet be made, but there is a strong interest. One Focal Point (Bulgaria) expressed deep concerns about the lack of financial support but also an insufficient administrative and financial preparation. He called for more information on Replenishment. 2 UNAOC Regional Action Plan for SEE The Secretariat provided an update on the history teaching project and the expectation that its implementation was now ‘around the corner’. The representative of Montenegro recalled the establishment of a diplomatic school and the holding of a Summer School, as part of the Regional Strategy. International Seminar on Religious Freedoms (Florence, June 13 – 14, 2011) Speaking on behalf of Italy and Spain, the Italian Focal Point informed that the Seminar would start from the example of the situation of Christian communities in certain countries, to address more generally the theme of religious diversity at a global level. The Seminar will gather a balanced representation of a limited number of countries from different geographical and cultural backgrounds together with scholars, religious representatives and representatives from international organizations, working on this theme. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Spain and Italy will attend the last session. Draft Regional Strategy for Latin America After two meetings in Lima, a short update was presented by the Secretariat. A text was almost ready for technical approval. An issue of scope was spared for a political decision. The approach is to build on the good regional and sub-regional cooperation and identify a limited number of CSO projects for scaling up and replication. The role of Peru was much appreciated. Brief presentations were also provided by the Secretariat on an Agreement with BMW, which will provide a much higher profile to the work of identifying the most innovative CSO’s initiatives for intercultural dialogue and proposing them for scaling up and replication (within World Intercultural Facility for Innovation). A major outreach initiative with Silicon Valley partners, inviting citizens to Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion on the World Day of Cultural Diversity, was also presented. There was no time to review other projects. 3. Preparing the UNAOC Third Implementation Plan and the Doha Forum The High Representative briefly introduced the idea that 2011 would lead to a new momentum or added dimension to the body of work accomplished thus far by the Alliance, its ‘acquis’. The draft Annotated Agenda 1 included a number of preliminary reflections, literally food for thought, for such exercise, building on the missing link – in that work – between culture, cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue on the one hand, and peace and development – including references to aspects of the MDG strategy - on the other. The purpose of the conversation was to get some preliminary feedback at this stage. On behalf of Qatar, Dr. Hassan Ibrahim Al Mohannadi recalled the ambition of his country to make the Forum a turning point in the evolution of the Alliance of Civilizations and the strong involvement of H.H. Sheikha Mozah in the preparation for that major event. Some points were made about the international body of work already accumulated on the link between Culture and Development, with particular reference to UNESCO. The EU representative suggested that the goals and objectives of the UNAOC are an important pre- condition for the MDG. The UNAOC agenda delivers the value basis for other UN institutions to complete their mandate. For instance, promoting gender equality and empower women (MDG Goal 1 Annotated Agenda for the Focal Points Meeting was shared on April 20, 2011 3 3) cannot be enforced without considering the goals and objectives of the UNAOC. The cooperation between UNAOC and other UN institutions dealing with MDG is based on an interdependent relationship, thereby avoiding any kind of mutual interference. The UNAOC is a very distinct UN process with its own identity and mandate. This should be maintained and strengthened by combining the MDG with the agenda in terms of an overall target.

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