The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations seeks to address widening rifts between communities and societies by reaffirming a paradigm of mutual respect among peoples of different cultural and religious backgrounds and by helping to mobilize concerted action towards this end. It aims to bridge the world’s divides and to build trust and understanding across cultures and communities worldwide.

The Alliance of Civilizations was established in 2005 as a UN initiative jointly supported by the President of the Government of Spain and the Prime Minister of Turkey. It emerged out of a conviction that, in order to achieve sustainable peace, long-standing divisions between cultures need to be addressed.

In April 2007, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Jorge Sampaio, former President of Portugal, as High-Representative for the Alliance. Under his leadership, the Alliance embarked on an extensive program of work which includes a range of practical initiatives and projects. The Alliance is supported by a Group of Friends, a growing network of over 100 governments and international organizations.