Programm overview

AGORA

It includes 2 strategic debates and 8 thematic workshops in the morning of 24 and 25 October during participants will be able to share their reflections on the positive impact of Intercultural Dialogue to respond to socio-cultural challenges in the region in the next decade, identify main challenges and potential political and operational ways to address them. The main output of the Agora will be an Intercultural Road Map with policy and programming proposals. 

STRATEGIC DEBATES

Day 1: on the importance of building an alternative Narrative for the Mediterranean, challenging extremist narratives and reclaiming a vision for Mare Nostrum based on exposing value trends and creating a partnership with mainstream  media.

WORKSHOPS

VALUE-BASED EDUCATION FOR INTERCULTURAL LEARNING - In a region characterized by cultural diversity and increased movements of people, it is of central importance to propagate the respect of diversity and nurturing shared-values and enhancing skills such as intercultural communication, critical thinking, debating techniques, and cultural understanding and to prevent the growing phenomena of intolerance among the young people of the region. 

MIGRATORY FLOWS AND CITIES AS INTERCULTURAL LABORATORIES - Cities can be critical players for intercultural dialogue and cultural diplomacy. Against a backdrop of unprecedented human movements, as well as the impact of the refugee crisis on the region’s societies, future intercultural cities will be potential dialogue incubators and engines of social innovation.

CROSS-CULTURAL REPORTING FOR MORE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING  AND KNOWLEDGE - There are a wide range of measures to be developed to leverage the positive benefit from the media role in shaping public perceptions and attitudes in the Euro-Mediterranean region. New partnerships between media and civil society, training of young journalists, monitoring on reporting on cross-cultural issues and production of new media formats for intercultural dialogue can inspire change in the wider sector.

INTERCULTURAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND NEW FORMS OF ORGANISATION FOR YOUTH AND WOMEN - New evidence highlights the potential of increased support for the development of social enterprises in the region, in particular as channels of economic, social and personal development of young women and men. Analysis of trends also highlights the potential for opening up new spaces of civic participation through innovative models of organization.

EUROMED EXCHANGES FOR MORE COOPERATION AND LEARNING - The Euro-Mediterranean region has a historic opportunity to activate people-to-people exchanges both face-to-face and virtual to enhance the opportunities for meaningful cross-cultural experiences and learning. Exchange opportunities should principally be targeting students, civil society representatives as well as youth at large.

YOUTH PARTICIPATION BEYOND THE EXTREMIST NARRATIVE - it is essential to challenge widely held assumptions about radicalisation, and to shift the recent policy focus on extremism to an alternative, inclusive narrative built on the common values of the silent majority of citizens to the north and south of the Mediterranean. Young people can be the champions of this narrative.

WOMEN AS AGENTS OF DIALOGUE - the status of women on both shores of the Mediterranean still suffers from a lack of recognition and socio-cultural biases. Significant changes to strengthen women’s role in society can be the result of a holistic approach combing institutional measures, grass-root actions and educational activities aiming at a slow but constant change of mentality for the readdressing of embedded stereotypes mainly through education and media actions.

ARTS AND CULTURE FOR BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF SHARED VALUES AND KNOWLEDGE - Arts is a vehicle for dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean. Translation is the language of the Mediterranean but new evidence demonstrates that it is receding as a cultural tradition with evidence of a significant increase in the north, south gap in translated works. 

MEDINA

In the afternoon of 24 October and during the networking lunch on 25 October, participants will gather in an intercultural fair to present their practices, build partnerships around current and future actions and identify potential donors and supporters to their actions through flexible and innovative networking methodologies. The main output of the Medina will be a Coalition of Dialogue Actions and Partnerships with the indication of new projects and partnerships developed and potential sources of support identified to face major challenges affecting the Euro-Mediterranean region.  

CULTURAL AND OUTREACH EVENTS

Through a collaboration established with the Malta Arts Council, a cultural programme is offered to the Forum participants in the evening of 23 October, with a dance performance “Home” on the topic of identity, in the evening of 24 October, with parallel music, theatre, film and exhibition performances taking place at the St James Cavalier cultural centre. In addition, on 25 October, Maltese civil society, coordinated by the Maltese Head of the Anna Lindh Network, will propose a programme of activities in Valletta open to international and Maltese audience to show-case civil society work and create opportunities for networking.