6th World Forum of Intercultural Dialogue to Convene in Azerbaijan
Baku, The Gulf Observer: The 6th World Forum of Intercultural Dialogue is set to take place in Azerbaijan from May 1st to May 3rd, themed “Dialogue for Peace and Global Security: Cooperation and Interconnectivity,” as announced by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan.
Forming an integral part of the Baku Process, initiated by President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2008, this year’s forum aims to reinforce the Baku Process’s role as a crucial international platform for fostering intercultural cooperation and dialogue.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the forum will be held in partnership with esteemed organizations such as the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the UN World Tourism Organization.
Over the course of three days, attendees will participate in 12 panel discussions and 4 plenary sessions, delving into a diverse array of topics including education, youth, climate change, artificial intelligence, protection of cultural heritage, and illegal migration. The forum will bring together leading international organizations, government officials, parliamentary leaders, representatives of international media, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations from over 100 countries to address pertinent global challenges and issues.
One of the highlighted sessions, “Confidence building through Interfaith Dialogue,” will convene over 100 religious leaders from various countries to foster mutual understanding and harmony among diverse religious communities.
On the final day of the forum, participants will have the opportunity to visit territories liberated from occupation and partake in two special panel sessions held in Agdam and Shusha.
The inaugural World Forum for Intercultural Dialogue took place in Baku in 2011 and has since been held biennially in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. Over the years, the forum has witnessed significant growth, with increased participation from countries and organizations worldwide.
With more than 10,000 participants to date, including government officials, leaders, and representatives of international organizations and institutions, and over 200 events of various formats and scales, the forum has become a pivotal platform for promoting intercultural dialogue on the global stage. The discussions and documents generated during previous forums have served as a valuable reference for international organizations, solidifying the “Baku Process” as a cornerstone for advancing intercultural dialogue, a recognition affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly.
