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International Forum:
“Inter-religious and intercultural dialogue of Civilizations:
East and West Youth Cooperation Initiatives”
26-28 October, 2007
Baku, Azerbaijan
Presentation
Call for application
Inter-religious and intercultural
dialogue of Civilizations
The richness of societies lies in its cultural diversity
expressed also by the number of religious, ethnic and
cultural groups and communities presented across the continent.
The immigration flows resulting from globalization and
increased interdependence are likely to further increase
this multiculturality.
It is often argued cultural difference
and religious difference are the “real” problems or factors
for discrimination, exclusion and hatred or whether they
are simply the new clothes for deeper and older forms
of racism and domination. The ignorance that is often
attributed to be at the root of different forms of xenophobias
would probably mean that religious discrimination is less
based on religion as such than on xenophobia and that
religion adds to it. Similarly, social scientists and
human rights activists have often denounced the inherent
racist ideologies behind the over-emphasis of culture
and cultural difference as a justification for segregation
and, ultimately, exclusion.
Regardless of one’s opinion on these
issues, one can not ignore that religion does play a major
role in the shaping of mutual perceptions in today’s world
and that these perceptions influence and are influenced
by what is happening in the rest of the world – the consequences
of the terrorism attacks since 11 September 2001 and the
consequences of the “war on terror” are probably the most
striking examples. The rise of Islamophobia in most western
societies is among the most grave consequence of this
and an example of the combination of religious, ethnic,
cultural and political phobias, often identified with
religion only (in this case Islam).
The unfortunate examples of this nature abound and they
are not restricted to Islamophobia:
the resurgence of Anti-Semitism and the intolerance towards
Christians in non-Christian societies would indicate that
the phenomenon is widespread and cuts across different
cultures, religions and civilizations.
In this context, the role of intercultural
dialogue appears as an essential approach to counter and
overcome mutual prejudices and the self-fulfilling prophecy
of the “war of civilizations”. If the purpose of intercultural
dialogue is “to learn to live together peacefully and
constructively in a multicultural world and to develop
a sense of community and belonging”, it is clear that
it can only work if it involves everyone, young people
included, and that it is not reduced to “culture” but
encompasses all the social manifestations and expressions
of “culture” including religion.
Culture and religion are factors for
social cohesion; they are also components of democracy
and human rights. Both culture and religion are also identified
as a source of phobias and the object of hate, discrimination,
exclusion. The agenda of Diversity in the campaign is
vast and can not be dissociated from the two other dimensions.
In the modern world crash and confrontation between civilizations
are one of the head topics/questions of the think-tank
centers. Along the history the crash of civilizations
were resulting with the wide confrontations and wars which
were ending millions of people life. Unfortunately in
our modern world still exists the problem of civilizations
crash and confrontation which is accompany with the wide
wars and military attacks. This is one of the global problems
of 21st century from which the civilizations and ordinary
people are still suffering. Today the main sides of this
modern world divergence and crash are the east and west,
if to say concretely between the Muslims and western world.
Despite that along history in those civilizations existed
the common values and culture which are the basics of
building peace and security in the world, in nowadays
we still could see large confrontations, crash and misunderstanding
between these communities. Certainly western civilization
is always for peace, security, prosperity, tolerance,
and civil society and always intended to realize these
values through the international and regional organizations
like OSCE, Council of Europe and other establishments
which serve for the development of core values of communities
mentioned above. But still lack of involvement and activation
of eastern civilization, especially Muslim community to
these processes make the world incomplete from this point
and created a gap and misunderstanding between two civilizations.
But today there is a possibility of partially eliminating
this gap between these civilizations and create a dialogue
and cooperation bridge between them by involvement civil
societies, especially youth leaders, NGOs and active young
people of both sides to this process. Precisely taking
into account the lack of confidence, understanding, cooperation
and partnership, lack of information about each others
reality justify the creation of the international platform
which could unite the representatives of civil societies,
youth leaders from these communities, NGOs and active
young people of both sides and lay out civil dialogue
and contacts among them. As the Organization always serving
to contribute to building civil and peaceful society among
international young people, we intend to dedicate our
next project to organizing international Forum which will
bring together a group of young people from the mentioned
above category representing western and eastern countries.
Aims of the Forum
The main aim of the Forum is to exchange
practices of inter-religious dialogue by young people,
their organizations and local, national and international
authorities and to propose ways through which interreligious
and intercultural dialogue can be further sustained through
and as a result of the “all different-all equal” campaign
and other relevant initiatives.
Objectives:
•To identify and understand the role
of young people in promotion of intercultural and inter-religious
dialogue;
•To develop a common understanding of
the challenges and priorities for youth action in the
fields of intercultural and inter-religious dialogue;
•To increase the capacity of participants
to engage with issues of intercultural and inter-religious
dialogue;
•To identify the possible actions to
be undertaken by young people in order to support and
promote inter-religious dialogue in their countries/communities,
from various perspectives;
•To develop participant’s personal skills,
knowledge and attitudes to deal with culture, tradition
and religious diversity;
•The main aim of the Forum is to identify
and understand the role of young people in promotion of
intercultural and inter-religious dialogue.
Program elements and Methodology of the course:
The Forum will be promoting the aim of
the “All Different, All Equal” European Youth Campaign
for Diversity, Human Rights and Participation - to encourage
and enable young people to participate in building peaceful
societies based on diversity and inclusion, in a spirit
of respect, tolerance, and mutual understanding. AAYSA
together with partner organizations initiated the organization
of the International Forum for the promotion of inter-religious
and intercultural dialogue and co-operation by young people
in the framework of the “All Different, All Equal” European
Youth Campaign. Within the Forum will be organized plenary
sessions, presentations, working groups and workshops
where will be discussed the various topics. Forum will
be continuing during 3 days and during the event participants
will be from US, European, Asian and Middle East countries
including civil society representatives from Azerbaijan.
In the first day participants will go
through the official part and plenary session discussions
and will make the presentation on the Forum work. To note
out that in the official part of the Forum will participate
officials from Azerbaijani government, MPs and various
experts. The next activity of the Forum in the same first
day will be presentations by the video film and slide
shows about the participating countries realties and situations
for creating more imagination and information about attending
states. It is very important in order to know well each
other before going into discussions and groups work around
the Forum topics.
In the second day participants will continue
their work in the workshops and working groups to discuss
the main project topics submitted for Forum agenda and
will make the group presentations upon the discussions
results. They will discuss all submitted topics in the
small round-tables to figure out and present their thoughts
and will make the presentations on these. This is one
of the important parts of the Forum because through going
round-table discussions they will be able to prioritize
and make brain storming on the topics which are very important,
actual and interesting for all participating countries
and around which they will build their future partnership
activity. Among the topics there are such areas which
are very important for east and west communities to discuss,
express their thoughts and positions and to define the
main areas and themes around which young people will build
their partnership and cooperation. Through the discussions
participants will find out which of the submitted topics
are still very actual and needed to be worked on aimed
at contribution in building peace and successful dialogue
between east and west by the hand of youth.
The last third day of the Forum will be dedicated to the
definition the statue, main principles and goals, activity
plans and strategy of the Organization of which they will
sign for establishment. During this day will be adopted
Baku communiqué and declaration about the Forum work and
results, about the establishment of International Organization-“East-West
Youth Cooperation and Dialogue Alliance”, the structure,
secretariat and governing body of this organization, the
role of participating countries in this institution and
plans of international relations and the next projects
of this institution. In this international meeting young
participants will have a discussions about the nearest
prospective programs, projects of the organization and
the place of headquarter of this organization.
The participants will discuss
the following agenda topics:
1. Democracy is our common target
2. Dialogue is always actual among east and west youth
communities
3. The role of East and West youth cooperation in struggling
with the terrorism in the world
4. Islamaphobia in Europe: Realities and Prospective
5. The role of young people in building civil dialogue
among the east and west communities
6. Youth Participation in building civil, democratic,
peaceful and prosperous society in the eastern civilization.
7. Intercultural integration and inter-religious dialogue
among the eastern and western civilizations
8. The ways of escaping from Islamaphobia
9. The reasons of confrontation and crash between civilizations
10. The prospective of cooperation and dialogue between
eastern and western civilizations
11. Youth participation role in dialogue building
12. Youth exchange prospective among western and eastern
communities
13. Confidence building measures initiatives among western
and eastern civilizations
14. The role of international youth projects and programs
in laying out dialogue and contacts between the Muslim
community and western civilization.
15. What should be done to escape confrontation between
east and west civilizations?
16. Inter civilization dialogue should begin from the
youth
17. The activities and measures to disseminate realities
of both sides civilizations in the local communities of
participating countries aimed at breaking stereotype and
negative image in both sides
The role of the International Forum
Taking into account the actuality of
east-west civilizations dialogue and indispensability
of involvement both sides community to the international
projects where they can know about each other’s realities
more and could build constructive dialogue, Organization
intends to gather members of east and west community members
in Muslim, democratic, civilization and modern challenged
country -Azerbaijan. Because if we would look through
the process of civilizations crash, terrorism attacks,
military interfere and various confrontations, we could
see that the center of all these process are the Middle
East, geographical area which is close to the territory
of Azerbaijan. Also Azerbaijan as the Muslim country has
a positive experience of democratization, civil society
building, and integration to the western world and adaptation
to the modern challenges of the modern world. From this
point gathering of both sides’ civilizations representatives
in Azerbaijan can be resulted with successful indicators
and can be the strong base of dialogue between western
world and eastern community. This will be the dialogue
of Islam and democracy, western challenges and eastern
culture and at least beginning of civilizations dialogue
from the youth prospective. We are very sure that involvement
of young people, youth NGO leaders and civil society activists
will contribute into the positive dialogue among eastern
and western civilizations, will play a promotional role
in stimulation youth participation in developing this
dialogue, will play an important role in engagement of
young people and youth leaders to the international projects
and will bring new quality to the relations of these inter
civilizations dialogue. The role of Azerbaijan in this
process is very important. The religion, tolerance traditions,
combination of the two civilizations culture, democratization
and modernization system and the civil society situation
in Azerbaijan will play the unique bridge between these
civilizations dialogue and will be the suitable place
for the meeting of both civilizations representatives
here in Azerbaijan. As the result of participation of
the above mentioned countries, participants will be able
to exchange experience and ideas on the situations in
their country, both sides youth will be aware the realities
and truth about each other country, especially eastern
and Muslim country youth will be able to get detailed
information about the international projects and programs
which in its turn will promote their country participation
in integration process to the western structures and will
make contacts between them. Taking into account the big
interest of young people in contribution of building dialogue
between civilizations, the favorable condition for this
and big enthusiasm among both sides to realize all these,
Organization is considering that the beginning of this
process precisely from Azerbaijan will affect very positively
on the civilizations dialogue and large integration of
eastern world to the west which is very necessary for
breaking the Islamaphobia in the west and bring peace,
stability, democracy and flourishing to the east.
Organizers of the International
Forum
The Forum will organized by the Azerbaijani-American
Youth Social Association within the programme of the “all
different-all equal” European youth campaign for Diversity,
Human Rights and Participation, with the financial support
of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Baku and Eurasia Foundation.
Expected outcomes and results
As the result of this Forum are planning
establishment of International Organization-“East-West
Youth Cooperation and Dialogue Alliance” which will serve
for the sustainability of the project ideas. It is very
important the continuation of the main goal of the project
as the dialogue which is only possible by mutual efforts
and real activity. Precisely establishment of the East-West
Youth Cooperation and Dialogue Alliance Organization will
be the international platform that will unite eastern
and western young people together and will promote their
active contacts, dialogue and cooperation among them within
the different regional and international projects.
Today it is very important of establishment
such international platform where can be represented active
young people, leaders of youth NGOs and civil society
activists of eastern and western communities for exchanging
of experience and thoughts and implementation joint projects.
As the result of creation this organization the representatives
from Muslim and eastern countries will able actively participate
in international projects by actively joining to the integration
process which in its turn will be initial step in disseminating
western values, democratic traditions and civil society
building experience in their countries. This will help
also for the modernization of these countries and actively
engagement to the western youth programs.
Western community, especially youth groups
are also very interested in this dialogue and contacts
and consider that through the benefiting of the international
projects and programs it is possible to begin constructive
dialogue and cooperation between them. Precisely after
the meeting in Azerbaijan by this organization will be
coordinated further activities and contacts between the
participating countries which in its turn will provide
the sustainability and long-term continuation of the project
idea which is very important topic in our days.
Within the Forum will be adopted Baku
communiqué and declaration about the Forum results. All
participating countries will join to this documents which
will declare the positions and thoughts of the participating
countries on the prospective of east-west civilizations
dialogue and will confirm about the establishment of East-West
Youth Cooperation and Dialogue Alliance Organization.
Also will be organized election to the structure of this
Organization and the representatives will consist of the
participating countries. In the organization will be functioning
governing body, secretariat and different departments
like project department. Organization will be registered
as the international organization and will serve for the
enlargement of the project idea which aimed at building
dialogue between civilizations, engagement of eastern
and western young people together to the international
projects and organizing international meetings among youth
on the topics like “Islam and democracy”, “youth role
and participation in building peace”, security, prosperity,
flourishing and dialogue in the world. Organization will
be functioning according to the annual activity plan and
budget, will held its annual general assemblies and meetings
every year and will cooperate actively with the international
donors and organizations.
Working languages:
English are the working language of the
Forum. Applicants must have sufficient understanding of
English language in order to comprehend and complete the
application form without assistance from another person.
Profile of the participants and
recruitment procedure:
The Forum seeks to bring together youth
workers and youth leaders, NGO and civil society representatives
directly interested or concerned by the themes of the
meeting.
All participants must:
Have direct personal experience in interreligious or
intercultural dialogue in youth work or intend to develop
projects in this field during or as a result of the project
Be motivated to contribute to the dialogue of east and
west civilizations
Be highly motivated to participate and contribute to
the event and to the implementation of its results
Be ready and able to work as multipliers;
Be aged between 18 and 30 year;
Be able to attend the full duration of the Forum;
Be able to work in English;
Eligible countries: USA, Norway, Denmark, UK, Germany,
Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran.
We are expecting 10 local participants from Azerbaijan;
All candidates must apply using the enclosed
application form. This form should be sent directly to
the email address of Organizer no later than 05th of September,
2007.
The preparatory team will make the selection
of participants on the basis of the motivation, experience
and potential for multiplication within a viable youth
work context of the project. In addition, the team will
try to ensure a balance between gender, geographical regions,
and different types of experiences, cultural backgrounds
and organizations.
The results
will be announced after 20th of September and only selected
participants will be contacted. Due to
the large number of applications expected, the Organizers
are not in a position to confirm refusal to candidates
not accepted for the Forum.
Accepted candidates will receive all
relevant documentation in advance of the meeting by e-mail.
The sending organizations and their successful applicants
are reminded that once a candidate has been placed on
the final list, they must make every effort to attend
for the full duration of the Forum. If, for any exceptional
reason, they are unable to take up the offer of a place,
they must inform the organizers immediately.
Technical Information
Accommodation
Board and lodging will be provided by organizers for the
whole duration of the meeting in Azerbaijan.
Insurance
Participants are asked to have their own insurance for
the duration of the Forum for accident, civil liability
or illness. The organizers do not cover insurance costs.
Financial Information
Travel reimbursement
Travel costs of all participants will be reimbursed partially
based on the original tickets, invoices and all travel
related tickets.
Visa costs of foreign participants will
not be reimbursed by the organizers.
Due to a low budget for transport, we
encourage participants that come from a range of 1000
km to use bus or train as means of transport.
Before purchasing your tickets, please
consult with the organizers upon the travel costs.
We kindly ask you to use any alternative
possibilities of funding that can cover travel costs.
Sometimes your sending organizations or structures would
effort to cover the travel costs or you may identify small
local grants to contribute for the travel cost. We would
appreciate very much your help.
Application procedure and deadline
Please use the application form enclosed
to this mail. Applications forms must be e-mailed to the
organiser, to this email address: aaysa.az@gmail.com
By
05th September,
2007 at the latest
Azerbaijani-American Youth Social
Association
Tabriz Str., 19, Baku, Azerbaijan,
AZ1000
(+994 12) 433 25 98
Cell: (+994 50) 343 53 02
aaysa_office@yahoo.com
aaysa.az@gmail.com
www.aagib.org
For more information about the organizer institution go
www.aagib.org
Good
luck!
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