UN forum demands alliance of peace, tackling disinformation

By Senhan Bolelli

LONDON (AA) - Global leaders urged a renewed commitment to peace-building and combating disinformation Tuesday in an increasingly polarized world at the 10th Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in Portugal.

UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Angel Moratinos, emphasized the need to move beyond an over reliance on security measures to address global challenges.

"Living with an obsession over security alone will not solve problems," said Moratinos. "To achieve peace, we must accept our differences and show respect for our cultural, religious, and societal diversity."

Launched 20 years ago under the joint leadership of Türkiye and Spain, the UNAOC initiative was designed to foster dialogue and cooperation among civilizations to prevent conflicts fueled by terrorism and extreme violence.

Reflecting on the initiative's progress, Moratinos noted that while UNAOC now has the support of 170 countries in its Group of Friends, the time has come to critically reassess its strategies.

"We must eliminate violence and terrorism from our society," he said, warning that an unbalanced focus on absolute security risks repeating past mistakes. "We are in a multipolar world where no civilization is superior to another. Our future must be inclusive, fair, and respectful of the dignity of all citizens."

King Felipe VI of Spain, who opened the forum, addressed the growing threat of disinformation to individuals and societies.

"We live in an increasingly complex world where information of all kinds—whether valuable and trustworthy or not—is disseminated instantly and without structure," said the king.

He warned that disinformation undermines critical thinking and decision-making processes, calling it "an unprecedented regression" for society.​​​​​​​

Felipe also underscored the subtle roots of conflict, such as ignorance, prejudice and distrust, which, if left unaddressed, can escalate into larger crises.

Both leaders emphasized the urgency of collective action.

Moratinos called for an "alliance for peace" to foster mutual understanding and respect across diverse cultural and religious groups.