Celebrating Our Diversity Forum 2019

Background

In 1995, the Barcelona Process laid down the foundations for a regional collaboration in the Euro-Med region and the establishment of the Anna Lindh Foundation to promote intercultural dialogue between the nations of the North and South of the Mediterranean. The Barcelona Declaration set the framework for a new regional relationship, aiming at achieving peace, stability and growth in the Mediterranean Partner Countries. It covers political, economic and social cooperation and represents a turning point in Euro-Mediterranean collaboration.

Where do we stand now after nearly 25 years from the launch of the pillars of the Euro-Med partnership? In the North shore of the Mediterranean, we are facing urgent challenges such as the rise of right populist movements, racism and hate speech. In the South shore, the setback of the “Arab Spring” and democratic movements have challenged an entire generation of youth and women rights advocates. In fact, both shores are facing common challenges such as climate change, democratic governance and economic (de)growth.

For the second year, we are organising our regional dialogue forum “Celebrating Our Diversity” with civil society members of the Anna Lindh Foundation network to exchange, debate and dream for a more stable and inclusive Euro-Med region. How do we make our cities embrace cultural differences and be open to dialogue? How do we take joint climate action for a more sustainable future?

Apply Now

Does your work contribute to building inclusive, sustainable and intercultural cities? Application is now open for Anna Lindh Foundation network members in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Estonia. In addition, we will invite civil society actors from other Euro-Med countries, particularly from the South of the Mediterranean.

Format

– Practitioners Lab: participants will host their workshops (max. 2 hours) on different methods and tools related to intercultural diversity and sustainable local communities. For example: “How to use storytelling to promote intercultural dialogue”. Or you can host your own rountable discussion on the forum’s theme.

– Agora: sharing good practices in a Ted-like format (15 mins).

– Medina: speed and slow dating opportunities for exchange and building future collaborations

– Debate: hosting one debate on the Euro-Med region challenges and opportunities.

– Culture programe: concert and artistic space

All expenses are covered.

Application period is closed.

Forum in the web page of the Swedish network

The Forum is an initiative of the National Museums of World Culture (Sweden) in collaboration with the Finnish Institute of the Middle East (Finland) with the support of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finnish Minitry of Foreign Affairs and the Anna Lindh Foundation. The Forum is an intercultural dialogue platform on the road to the Anna Lindh Foundation Euro-Med Forum in Croatia in April 2020.

Union for the Mediterranean Countries: along with the 28 EU Member States, 15 Southern Mediterranean, African and Middle Eastern countries are members of the UfM: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Turkey.