Thematic Panel 4 - 10th UNAOC Global Forum

Thematic Panel 4: "Igniting dialogue for peace through inclusive transformative education"

• H.E. Mr. Gjorge Ivanov, President of North Macedonia (2009-2019),Founder of the School of Young Leaders
• H.E. Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, ICESCO, and Minister of Culture, Azerbaijan (2021-2022)
• H.E. Dr. Assia Ben Salah Alaoui, Ambassador at Large to HM King Mohammed VI, Resident Member of the Royal Academy of Morocco
• Ms. Pilar Morales, Executive Director, North-South Centre of the Council of Europe
• H.E. Mr. David Fernandez Puyana, Ambassador and Permanent Observer, University for Peace
• Mr. Obijiofor Aginam, Director, UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development
• Dr. Joana Corrêa Monteiro, NOVA School of Business and Economics & Universidade Católica Portuguesa, School of Medicine

Moderator: Ms. Jayashri Wyatt, Chief, Education Outreach Section, Outreach Division, United Nations Department of Global Communications

Education plays a central role in building inclusive and peaceful societies in an increasingly fragmented world. The challenges of racism, xenophobia, and hate speech continue to deepen societal divides, making dialogue across cultural, religious, and ethnic lines essential for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Inclusive transformative education provides a pathway to ignite dialogue for peace by equipping individuals with the tools to understand and respect diversity, engage in critical thinking, and contribute to intercultural dialogue.

This session will not only highlight good practices in inclusive transformative education but also explore how education systems can evolve to address new challenges, such as social inequalities, political polarization, and global crises. The recently adopted UN Pact for the Future stresses the importance of providing safe, inclusive, and quality education which must equip learners with the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Additionally, the Global Digital Compact—to be discussed at the summit—underscores the importance of integrating digital tools into education to foster inclusive dialogue and combat rising misinformation and hate speech online. Participants will share insights on how education can prevent conflict, promote dialogue, and foster social cohesion, drawing from successful approaches that bridge divides and build a sense of shared humanity.

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The 10th UNAOC Global Forum in Cascais, Portugal will convene members of the UNAOC Group of Friends, political leaders, representatives of international and regional organizations, religious leaders and faith actors, the private sector, civil society, academia, youth, arts and media, as well as donor agencies and foundations, who will address the global issues pertinent to peace and security and call for restoring trust and for uniting in peace. 

In Cascais, participants will have an opportunity to reflect on the twenty years of the 'Alliance of Civilizations' initiative, announced by Spain at the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2004, and how UNAOC grew into a vibrant and well-established United Nations entity.

The event will be an occasion to highlight and celebrate UNAOC achievements and map the blueprint for "One Humanity" in the years to come.