Algeria showcased its experience in promoting peace and combating extremism at the 11th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sofiane Chaib, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of the National Community Abroad, led the Algerian delegation at the forum, which took place on December 14th and 15th.
This year’s forum, themed “Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity: Advancing a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World,” brought together UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, High Representative for the UNAOC Miguel Moratinos, government representatives, international figures, youth leaders, and women activists dedicated to fostering peace and intercultural understanding.
The event marked the 20th anniversary of the UNAOC, a platform for cultural dialogue, cooperation, and understanding. The Alliance seeks to bridge divides, combat intolerance, extremism, and exclusion, and reject all forms of violence, hate speech, and Islamophobia.
During the high-level meeting of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Sofiane Chaib emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach based on cooperation and the strengthening of intellectual, cultural, religious, and scientific ties between peoples and nations. He underscored Algeria’s support for the UNAOC initiative and the importance of providing it with the necessary mechanisms to embody the principles of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Chaib also highlighted Algeria’s international efforts to promote peaceful coexistence, conflict resolution, and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. He drew inspiration from the values embodied by Emir Abdelkader, the founder of the modern Algerian state, a symbol of dialogue between civilizations and a pioneer of humanitarian principles in international law.
The Secretary of State pointed to national mechanisms adopted by Algeria to combat violence and hatred, and to promote the values of tolerance, solidarity, peace, dialogue, dignity, and justice. These include the enactment of a law to combat hate speech and the establishment of a national observatory to monitor and address such practices. Algeria remains committed to fostering a culture of peace both domestically and internationally. The nation’s dedication to these principles is unwavering.
