21 September 2023, New York - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) contributed to the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Group of Friends High-Level Meeting at the Headquarters of the United Nations. Hon. Pedro Roque, Portugal, President of PAM 3rd Standing Committee on Dialogue among Civilizations and Human Rights, represented the Assembly on this occasion.
High Representative Angel Miguel Moratinos briefed the Group of Friends members on UNAOC’s advocacy work, institutional developments, programs and progress made under various portfolios and mandates during 2022-2023, including the UNAOC Action Plan 2019-2023. The meeting has also served as an occasion to highlight scheduled activities in 2024, including the 10th UNAOC Global Forum, which will be hosted by the Government of Portugal.
During his speech, Hon. Roque focused on developments in recent months, when the Euro-Mediterranean borders have witnessed significant upheavals, such as the Russian aggression against Ukraine and civil war in Sudan, as well as a series of military coups in the Sahel region. He stressed the urgent need for parliamentary efforts to promote international peace, and primarily in the Middle East. He addressed pressing issues, including the impact of climate change in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions, the new migration crisis in the central Mediterranean route, and the need to support women’s empowerment and gender equality in political representation.
PAM remains appreciative of the work of the Alliance of Civilizations, with which it has been collaborating since the early days and remains committed to engage with its various programs and actions in the coming years.//