UEMF hosts the youth event of the 9th UN World Forum on the Alliance of Civilizations

The Euromed University of Fes (UEMF) hosts, from November 21 to 23, 2022, the youth event of the 9th UN World Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations which is taking place in Fez (UNAOC).

The UN Alliance of Civilizations World Forum is being held for the first time on the African continent. Thanks to the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI regarding world peace, the promotion of intercultural and intercultural dialogue, living together and inclusion, this Forum is held in Morocco and particularly in the spiritual and ancestral city of Fez, which is home to the oldest university in the world still in operation, Al Qarawiyine University, which was the rear base of the golden age of Muslim civilization in Al-Andalus by providing and sharing science and knowledge with the Iberian Peninsula and, by extension, with Europe and the world. 

Ministers of Foreign Affairs, intellectuals, religious figures and also senior representatives from various countries across the five continents participate in this global event to make the voice of tolerance, living together, unity and a single indivisible humanity heard, at a time when, unfortunately, ideas and ideologies of identity withdrawal, radicalization, extremism, terrorism, but also xenophobia, hatred and rejection of the other are proliferating.

By decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad and in consultation with the UN, the 'youth' component of the Forum takes place at the Euromed University of Fes whose creation project stems from His Majesty King Mohammed VI. UEMF's primary mission is the promotion of intercultural dialogue, exchange and cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean with a natural extension towards sub-Saharan Africa where 43 nationalities currently coexist among its students and teaching-researchers. 

The 'Youth' component of the forum began this morning on November 21 at UEMF with welcome remarks from Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, and Mr. Mostapha Bousmina, President of UEMF. 

Mr. Bousmina emphasized the important and salutary role of His Majesty the King, lawyer and fervent defender of pluralism, of respect for cultures and religions, and a true unifier of peoples by favoring the spirit of concord rather than discord, consensus rather than dissensus, the logic of addition rather than subtraction. The cardinal values of Morocco in terms of tolerance, living together and otherness, he said, are illustrated by facts by giving examples such as the royal concern for the preservation and enhancement of Moroccan Jewish heritage, Morocco's migration policy and the inclusion of sub-Saharan migrants, the scholarship policy for sub-Saharan students, the training of imams to preach the values of peace, moderation and the middle way to guard against ideologies of fanaticism, radicalization and terrorism. The young people present were astonished and delighted to hear Mr. Bousmina read the preamble of the 2011 Moroccan constitution, which explains the diversity of Moroccan identity and the values of tolerance and inclusion that characterize Morocco and Moroccans.  

After the opening remarks, the 300 young participants representing 98 nationalities split into several groups to exchange and debate within UEMF's Eco-Campus on topics related to interreligious dialogue, the fight against discrimination and intolerance based on religion through all channels, including social networks. Other topics related to promoting peace through sport, the role of education and women for a fairer, more peaceful and more inclusive society and changing the narrative about migration were also discussed. These exchanges and debates will continue until November 23.

At the end of these three days of exchange and cross-opinion, the young people will formulate recommendations to the United Nations for a more tolerant, fairer and more inclusive world.