New Humanity NGO, through the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee, played a central role in supporting this initiative, organizing a round table to demonstrate how interfaith and intercultural dialogue can drive united human values, even in a challenging world.

Key Takeaways from the Round-Table

Several influential speakers shared valuable insights during the round-table, shedding light on diverse perspectives:

• Bérengère Savelieff (Pax Christi): Presented a compelling case for inter-religious collaboration based on a UN resolution, sharing a field experience from the Congo that demonstrated how dialogue drives actionable change in conflict-affected areas.
• Maria Teresa Siniscalco: Showed how interfaith dialogue enriches school education, with examples from schools in Pakistan and Slovenia, illustrating its role in building bridges between young people of different backgrounds.
• Reverend Youshiharu (WFB & Religions for Peace Japan): Explored how interfaith approaches address ethical dilemmas in emerging fields like Artificial Intelligence, showcasing the relevance of spiritual perspectives in modern challenges.
• Professor Fabio Petito: Argued for closer collaboration between religious organizations and governments, emphasizing that this partnership is essential for tackling contemporary global issues effectively.

Building Momentum for Action

The discussions also served as a platform to strengthen the role of interfaith dialogue in global policymaking. Panelists and participants expressed their willingness to present the work of the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee to key delegations, including those of France and Italy, to garner support for a UNESCO resolution. The next step involves reaching out to additional member states of UNESCO’s Executive Board to build broad-based backing.

Furthermore, the round-table reinforced the unity and commitment of the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee. This shared sense of purpose will drive ongoing initiatives, including a magazine project led by Pax Christi. The magazine will highlight the committee’s collective achievements, further advancing advocacy efforts with UNESCO member states.

Why This Matters

The conference was a powerful reminder that inter-religious dialogue is not just theoretical; it creates real, measurable change. From shaping educational practices to addressing complex ethical questions, it fosters collaboration that transcends cultural and religious boundaries.

We invite you to watch the sessions and be inspired by the stories and strategies shared:

• October 28 Morning Session | October 28 Afternoon Session
• October 29 Morning Session | October 29 Afternoon Session

L'articolo Round table at UNESCO – How interfaith dialogue is building inclusive and peaceful societies proviene da New Humanity.

 The UNESCO Youth Forum  

Crafted by and for the youth, the UNESCO Youth Forum is orchestrated by the Social and Human Sciences Sector. It provides a dynamic space for engagement, discussion, and debate, allowing young minds to share their recommendations and solutions with Member States during the esteemed UNESCO General Conference. 

Focus of the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum 

The Social Impacts of Climate Change and the need to achieve an equitable climate transition  

This year’s forum tackled the pressing issue of the Social Impacts of Climate Change and the imperative of achieving an equitable climate transition. With young people boldly asserting that their future is at risk due to climate change, the forum assumed a critical role in shaping discussions around the future of humanity, particularly for the youth. 

Nomination and Representation 

Each participating Member State nominates a youth representative, and although NGOs are not directly invited, the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee was invited for the first time to nominate a youth representative to represent the Youth of those NGOs. In this case, Melissa, the representative of New Humanity with the Paris delegation, was chosen, marking not just a significant responsibility with the NGO-Youth Steering Group, but a testament to the appreciation and value accorded to the work of the Paris team and the New Humanity NGO. 

Preparatory Sessions and Objectives  

In the lead-up to the forum, preparatory sessions were conducted virtually from August onwards, involving over 170 young participants from five regions. These sessions focused on four key objectives: youth creation and knowledge dissemination, proposed youth actions responding to local challenges, strengthening youth capacities, and ensuring youth voices reach decision-makers. 

Key Recommendations and Solutions  

The main goal was to identify actionable recommendations and youth-led solutions, focusing on areas such as effective youth engagement, sustainable communities, skills development for a green and blue economy, ethical digital solutions, and the protection of human rights. These recommendations formed the foundation of a two-page document, symbolizing the collaborative effort to address the social impact of climate change. Also, a one-page per region was drafted and delivered. 

“I would like to encapsulate the essence of the forum, highlighting the three-month journey of crafting recommendations and solutions. It was a great challenge but what I could appreciate in substance was the promotion of constructive and positive exchanges within a diverse group, grounded in the significance each country and region places on the climate crisis and actively addressing solutions to a more conscious, caring, fair, equal and sustainable future. What I take from this experience and will promote within the NGO-Youth Steering Group and my own NGO the importance of respectful discussions, recognizing that every contribution is a step towards an infinite array of possibilities for fostering dialogue, debate, and the exchange of ideas advocating for human fraternity and for sure future collaboration on concrete practices”. Melissa Mejía Flórez

Conclusion 

The 13th UNESCO Youth Forum stands as a significant milestone in the ongoing global discourse on climate change. Through shared experiences, dialogues, and a commitment to finding innovative solutions, participants showcased the power of unity in addressing pressing global challenges. Melissa’s journey exemplifies the ethos of New Humanity, paving the way for continued collaboration in the pursuit of an equitable and sustainable climate transition. As the forum concluded, the echoes of these discussions reverberated, leaving an indelible mark on the collective commitment towards a shared and just future. 

L'articolo Charting a Path: Insights from the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum proviene da New Humanity.

For the second time during the Plenary session, New Humanity was represented by a youth speaker, witnessing the intergenerational approach and the trust practiced within the organization. In her address, Hinojosa acknowledged the ongoing challenges in our world—war, violence, polarization, exploitation, and hatred. She outlined a pathway: “There is an urgent need to mobilize all forces to ensure that dialogue, reconciliation, and healing remain the preferred paths to repel violence at all levels.” 

New Humanity has been relentlessly promoting human fraternity as the cornerstone of dialogue, peace, justice, and solidarity. Hinojosa emphasized the organization’s commitment to deep intergenerational, interreligious, intercultural, and interconnected relationships rooted in mutual trust, respect, and support. The core message was clear: dialogue is key to transcending hatred, discrimination, and global conflicts. 

The Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is a principle present in all religions and is fundamental to New Humanity’s commitment to shaping behavior that respects every human being. The organization’s involvement in education, particularly through the “Citizenship and Fraternity Dice” method, demonstrates practical steps taken to instill values of dialogue and inclusivity in younger generations. 

New Humanity and the United Nations: a journey of collaboration and commitment 

In 1987 New Humanity obtained Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Social and Economic Council (ECOSOC), and has held General Consultative Status since 2005. In 2008 New Humanity was recognized as a NGO partner of UNESCO. This status enables New Humanity to actively support UN work, establish networks with governments, organizations, and UN bodies, and contribute recommendations to international decision-making processes. 

Therefore, the statement also facilitated a call from faith-based NGOs to the UNESCO General Conference to “restore the full place of interreligious dialogue in the [UNESCO’s plan of activities for the next two years (C5)]”. This crucial element aims to foster more inclusive and peaceful societies, exemplifying New Humanity’s commitment to building a united world and a proactive approach to addressing global crises. 

By fostering collaborations, advocating for interreligious dialogue, and promoting inclusive education, New Humanity continues to play a vital role in creating a united and fraternal world.  

Read the full statement.

L'articolo New Humanity NGO at the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference: fostering dialogue and peace proviene da New Humanity.

Monday 3 July, the Ambassador of the Permanent Delegation of the Sultanate of Oman to UNESCO, mr. Hamed Alhamami, officially opened an exhibition entitled “Tolerance, Understanding, Coexistence: Oman’s Message of Islam”. The exhibition, which has been promoted by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs in Oman since 2009, has travelled around the world and has visited 39 countries . The exhibition, about religious life and society in the Sultanate of Oman, aims to promote interfaith dialogue, with special emphasis on religious tolerance, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.

The following day, the representatives of New Humanity NGO, met with other NGO’s and some institutional actors to learn more about the work of Baraza NGO, a new participant to the NGO interfaith working group, which presented its UNITY programme for school in a.o. Germany and India. The other participants to the round table also shared their expertise and experiences in the field of peace education through interfaith dialogue. A contribution for New Humanity NGO was made by Mrs. Maria Teresia Siniscalco on the work of the NGO in the field of (peace) education.

Other NGOs in attendance at the meeting were Pax Christi International, International Council of Jewish Women, the International Fellowship for Reconciliation and the World Fellowship of Buddhists. Other individual guests were in attendance including Jan Figel – former European Commission Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion outside the European Union, Monsignor Guillaume Bruté de Rémur – Rector at Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Lebanon, Beirut and Prof. Dr Anke Weber – Head of Studies for Intercultural Business Psychology at the University of Applied Sciences, Hamm-Lippstadt in Germany.

Central to the enfolding discussion was the importance of a genuine interfaith dialogue both for the work of (international) public institutions, such as UNESCO, and the life of civil society. The meeting between the various faith based organisations presents a sign of hope and opens up perspectives for future collaboration.

L'articolo Interfaith NGO meeting at the UNESCO in Paris proviene da New Humanity.

In the afternoon of Monday, November 15, 2021, during the 41st session of the UNESCO’s General Conference, the non-governmental organization New Humanity took the floor in the General Policy Debate to share the commitment and the work that children, youth and adults have been doing in terms of global citizenship, through the reading key of a united world, that is, fraternity.

“We would be taking a step forward if we all strive to love each other’s country as our own; if we all commit to an integral ecology by taking respectful and caring actions towards our fellow human beings and towards the nature on which our lives depend. This concerns us all, regardless of our beliefs. Whether we are young or old. Whether we have power or not”.

(pdf document – New Humanity NGO speech)

New Humanity NGO at the UNESCO’s 41st session of the General Conference 

The 41st session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) opened at the Organization’s Headquarters in Paris on Tuesday, 9 November 2021 and its work is expected to conclude on Wednesday, 24 November 2021.

The General Policy Debate took place from Wednesday, 10 November morning to Monday, 15 November afternoon which was followed at the end by the reply of Audrey Azouley the reelected Director-General.

Why was this participation important?

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in official partnership with UNESCO had the possibility to send their organization’s representative(s) to the General Conference as observers at the session, and some NGOs requested to address the plenary meeting of the General Conference. New Humanity was one of the NGOs who asked to present a statement on matters within their respective competence during the General Policy Debate, and had also a statement to be presented on the SHS commission, with the consent of the presiding officer. 

To have the floor is important because it allows not only to present the relevant actions of the organization itself, but also to know the work of other organizations or projects with which synergy can be created, in order to fulfill together the objectives of the 2030 Agenda.

On this occasion, New Humanity presented three general projects that are carried out by a particular promoter (children or youth), but that at the same time are built on the basis of intergenerationality, an indispensable characteristic for the organization.

1. #ZeroHunger, in collaboration with FAO
2. Pathways for a United World as a commitment with UNESCO and the Sustainable Development Goals, and
3. Together for a New Africa, where the training in politics and a culture of fraternity and leadership of young people creates solutions from their own reading of the territory, the country and its culture.

A special invitation

At the conclusion of New Humanity’s speech, an invitation was extended to the Global Citizenship Forum, which will be held on December 6 and 7, 2021.

The NGO Liaison Committee of UNESCO, which gathers more than 400 NGO partners of UNESCO like New Humanity, organizes Forums on themes of interest to UNESCO. New Humanity is fully committed to Global Citizenship and after 2 years of work, with UNESCO and other NGOs interested in the subject, a Forum will take place online on December 6 and 7, 2021 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. 

More information and registration form can be found here: http://www.ngo-unesco.net/forum_global_citizenship.html 

L'articolo Global Citizenship, pathway to a United World proviene da New Humanity.

Climate change is getting worse: we have seen floods, heavy storms, fires, desertification, soil erosion, air and water pollution, and other natural disasters increasing.

Having a wider vision and understanding that we can create networks with people, organizations and institutions, allows us to make greater efforts to leave a better living place for present and future generations and try to reach net-zero Emission.

As part of the Pathways of Planet, People and our Ecological Conversion, we want to share some insights and commitments in this COP 26.

This webinar is an open space for those who are interested and want to know more about COP 26, understand our role in this conference and how we can act locally.

The two main speakers, Dr Lorna Gold and Tillie Palmer will answer some questions about it.

Follow the webinar on the United World Project YouTube Channel

L'articolo COP 26 | INSIGHTS AND COMMITMENTS proviene da New Humanity.

Do you want to contribute to a united world, representing the United World Project and New Humanity NGO in your country and working with national and international institutions such as UNESCO and the United Nations? You are invited to join us!

Who are we ?

The United World Ambassadors program is promoted by New Humanity International NGO, a Non-governmental organization of the Focolare Movement. The mission of the NGO is to be the expression of the values, ideas and good practices that are born from the life of the Focolare Movement in every sphere of society, the idea of a united world, promoting the spirit of universal fraternity at all levels, as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1987 it obtained Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Social and Economic Council (ECOSOC), and has held General Consultative Status since 2005. In 2008 it was recognized as an NGO partner of UNESCO. New Humanity NGO is one of the main promoters of the United World Project.

The ‘United World Ambassadors’ program aims at creating a worldwide network of youth who become spokesperson of New Humanity NGO at national and international level, being the bridge between local and global efforts for a united world. Specifically, the ‘United World Ambassadors’ will be in charge of establishing a collaborative relationship with national Institutions (such as the UNESCO National Commissions,) Governments, and Civil and Religious Organizations. Their task is to identify, collect and present the best practices promoted over the years in their respective countries, with the final aim of obtaining the recognition of the United World Week at the United Nations.

Who are we looking for ?

Young people between 18 and 30 years old who share a passion for universal fraternity and a united world, who are enthusiastic to learn more about international and intercultural relations and ways to have an impact by being global citizens, and by working together with others from all over the world.

Our activities and expectations: The ambassadors’ role

• Engage in an online formation program to be prepared to interact with international and other institutions.
• Collect good practices on concrete ways in which people are living for universal fraternity in our cities, countries or regions to show how a united world is possible.
• To be the spokesperson for New Humanity NGO and the United World project both locally and with the international institutions.
•  Active participation in the United World Ambassador Network, working with professionals from the New Humanity Offices all around the world and partner associations. Concretely as ambassadors we commit ourselves to learn, to share and to act for a united world. We commit ourselves to do this for at least two years to ensure the continuity of the program. In this way we make steps to realize change in our communities and in the international institutions and we have a chance to live valuable life and professional experiences together.

On Tuesday May 4th 2021, 20h-21h (Rome time) during the United World Week, we will hold a webinar on this call for those who are interested.

How to apply ?

Please fill out the application form (click here).

The application process will close on Friday June 4th 2021.

Do you have any questions ?

Contact us at: uwa@new-humanity.org

L'articolo Call for ‘United World Ambassadors’ proviene da New Humanity.

On Monday, March 15, 2021, Justus G. Mbae from Kenya, Dr. Letizia De Torre from Italy, Adélard Kananira from Burundi, and Wanjiru Kabury from Kenya attended the “Peace and Citizenship. Education For Encounter and Solidarity” event representing Together for a New Africa Project of the New Humanity NGO. It was the second of five webinars offered by the Global Compact on Education in collaboration with LUMSA University to analyze projects and best educational practices from around the world.

Together for a New Africa

Adélard Kananira, a student, began the presentation of Together for a New Africa (T4NA), telling the story behind the project that was begun in 2014 among his colleagues at Sophia University Institute. “T4NA’s mission,” he explained, “is to enable young Africans to face the key challenges of their continent by promoting and developing a culture of unity suited to the African context through lived experiences, training, mentoring and networking. Our goal is to look to the past and learn from history in order to understand what is favorable and to avoid making the same mistakes again.

Wanjiru Kabury, author and promoter of T4NA, added: “The discussions, reflections, presentations and guidance given at Together for a New Africa summer schools are what I would call the right kind of education that speaks to the heart, transforms minds and inspires people to take action. What we lack is the transformation of the mind through the right kind of education. This is the awareness that has brought us together today in this conference and which has led to conversations in many seminars around the world.”

T4NA participants from different countries are now actively engaged in their communities. Kabury stated: “One of our participants from Tanzania worked with girls to empower them and she also ran for parliament on one of the special seats for young people”. Others attest that the program has helped them find their voice and challenged them to take on leadership roles even in times of pandemics. In fact, many of them have been at the forefront of spreading the messages of the World Health Organization, helping to raise awareness of the various guidelines and also supporting them with the procurement of masks, disinfectants, food, clothing and asylum.

Justus Mbae, representative of New Humanity in Nairobi and Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University of East Africa suggested that thanks to the work they are carrying out with T4NA it is easier to believe in the possibility of recreating Africa. “We can change, reform, transform Africa and with this change the whole world as well,” he said. “We have a lot of hope, especially in our young people, because they can break with the things they have done so far and start new ones. We must encourage them to move forward, to transform the world.”

Other participants in the webinar included: Vincenzo Buonomo, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University; Flavio Lotti from Local Bodies for Peace, Prof. Franco Vaccari, founder of Rondine, Citadel of Peace; Elisabetta Murgia and Guido Barbera from Vides Internazionale, and Prof. Monica Lugato, from LUMSA University. The latter opened the webinar summarizing the aims of the event, that is, “to give visibility to the value of peace as a pivotal part of university education and academic activity, and to keep attention on the social responsibility of “university institutions for building peace.”

by Anita Martinez

L'articolo Global Compact on Education – Peace and Citizenship, Education For Solidarity and Encounter proviene da New Humanity.

On Monday, September 14, Teens4Unity, an affiliate member of New Humanity, participated with its own experience in the webinar “The voice of NGOs: global citizenship to spur inclusion and diversity” organized by the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee.

Opening the webinar Cecilia Barbieri, Chief of the “Global Citizenship and Peace Education section” at UNESCO, stressed the crucial role played by civil society organizations in the educational field, and specifically in the achievement of the fourth Sustainable Development Goals of “Quality Education” by 2030. This objective aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. According to Barbieri, global citizenship education has become even more relevant and necessary during this pandemic.

During the webinar, Fidelia, one of the leaders of Teens4Unity in Kenya, shared the model of the “Hombre Mundo” (“World Person” in Spanish) camps, which aim to educate new generations of global citizens. The formula is simple: a two-week international camp in which teenagers from different cultures participate. During the first week, young people are challenged to overcome prejudices and nationalism and to undertake a journey together to discover the gifts of their own and others’ cultures. The second week, on the other hand, focuses on learning through action: teenagers visit and contribute to established projects in local communities, where they learn how to serve and respond to the different needs of the community.

Audrey, a Kenyan teenager, took part in one of the camps was able to share the transformative experiences lived by some of her peers. For example, the 2017 Hombre Mundo camp in Patzún, Guatemala which brought together young people from six Central American countries with a vast cultural and ethnic diversity. “Here, they worked on a tree-planting project with an indigenous community,” explained Audrey, “so they learned to appreciate that each culture has much to share.” Also, in 2017, Audrey continued, a camp took place in Eastern Europe, which helped build a friendship between Ana (a Serbian teen) and Luka (a Croatian teen). Friendship that helped them to overcome the pain of a war that divided their peoples and whose scars still struggle to heal today.

These transformative experiences are, undoubtedly, shared by the many hundreds of young people who’ve taken part in these Hombre Mundo camps. But is there something to be learned from these experiences? Can they help us accelerate progress towards the Global Goals?

Fidelia explained that the key lesson of the Hombre Mundo workshops is the ‘Head, Hearts, Hands’ method: an education based on knowing (head), loving (heart) and acting (hands). The young people are then leaders in setting the agenda of the program, they work alongside the facilitators and animators as equals, they have the space to reflect and share on all topics. Like many Global Citizenship Education initiatives, the impact is not immediate. It is not seen immediately in the classroom or during the workshop. The effect is, however, absolutely clear when the students return to their communities and activate change.

Other initatives presented include that of: Leonard Cheshire, a British NGO that supports people with disabilities globally; the International Council of Jewish Women, which shared its experiences of interfaith dialogue in Europe and South Africa’; and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, which campaigns on the need for feminist perspectives to enrich the concept of global citizenship.

Cecilia Barbieri concluded the webinar by stressing the necessity for lifelong learning and the importance of access to such learning, including training on global citizenship.

Five years have passed since world leaders signed up to achieve the Global Goals by 2030. This was a plan to, among other things, end poverty, fight inequality and beat climate change. With 10 years to go, we are really behind. Now, more than ever, we need effective projects and commitments to unlock progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Conleth Burns

L'articolo Global citizenship education is the key to progress on Global Goals proviene da New Humanity.

After the spectacular conclusion of #InTimeForPeace at the United World Week in May, the moment has arrived to focus on the new theme for “Pathway for a United World” campaign.

Pathway 2020/2021, #daretocare, will hold at its core active citizenship and politics for unity.

This pathway’s slogan and hashtag is #daretocare… taking care, being interested, being actively engaged and giving importance. However, give importance to what? To all that is happening in the world and around us.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the events that followed it on a global level, showed us more than ever how crucial and urgent it is to take care of our surroundings: of the planet, of society, of minorities and institutions. These topics were also addressed by Pope Francis in the Laudato Si’ encyclical (“on care for our common home”) – for which he has also promoted a special year of reflection now (24 May 2020 – 24 May 2021), thus bringing everyone’s attention to the broad horizon of the theme of care, which involves people and nations to the point of embracing the entirety of creation.

Chiara Lubich, described the vocation in politics to be “the love of loves”. The concept of “taking care” can express very efficiently this type of social love, which directly involves political action and the exercise of citizenship. Politics and citizenship are such areas that in some way involve all aspects of life, and therefore depend on each of us being responsible for our own “square meter”.

The proposal for Pathways 2020/2021 is simple: putting “care” at the centre of politics and of our lives as citizens.

The launch of #daretocare witnessed the contribution of people from various parts of the world, who, by taking care of others, have walked the most original and creative ways to continuously share and sow lived fraternity. The program also included insights with experts and music to comprehend the importance / scope of the #daretocare Pathway 2020/2021.

Here you can watch the live broadcast of the #daretocare pathway launch:

#daretocare pathway will conclude during the United World Week 2021. Its main international event will be held in Brussels, in May 2021.

L'articolo New United World Project Campaign: #daretocare Pathway proviene da New Humanity.