Symposium Overview

The historic day of November 9th 2014, which marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the summer of 2015 which will mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the last world war and the establishment of the UN, represent the major transitions that have taken place globally in the development of global human rights towards a more peaceful, prosperous, equal and protected society.

As we celebrate these historic occasions together throughout the world, and in particular, at a time when new forms of violence are currently on the rise, we must remember and learn from the global cooperation and diverse initiatives of that time, which have allowed us the privilege to no longer live in a region of peoples divided, cultures suppressed and voices oppressed.

The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy has therefore created the symposium in order to build on this past experience and to formulate new initiatives, which will strengthen international relations and encourage cooperation between diverse communities based upon values of peace, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Symposium Agenda

In an age of growing international instability, many questions are being posed about the responsibility and the role of the United Nations in today’s interdependent world. This Symposium will take the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the UN to bring an international and interdisciplinary group of practitioners of cultural diplomacy together with high level global governance representatives in order to analyze and to develop new initiatives to promote cultural understanding, global human rights & world peace within the UN.

The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in the United Nations will include keynote addresses, lectures, and interactive panel discussions and debates in order to create a platform for new initiatives to be created and proposed.

Symposium Locations

The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in the UN will take place in New York City. The conference will be hosted at a number of important political, historic, and cultural locations across the city.

Symposium Speakers & Delegates

Speakers and delegates during the symposium will include leading politicians, chief diplomats, leading governmental officials, senior academics, renowned authors, journalists, and celebrated artists. These speakers will include a large number of individuals from the ICD Advisory Board. To learn more about the ICD Advisory Board, please click here.

Speakers for the Symposium include:

H.E. Amb. Katalin Bogyay Ambassador of Hungary to the UN

D.G. Irina Georgieva Bokova Director-General of UNESCO

H.R. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations

Symposium Participants »

Participation in the conference is open to governmental & diplomatic officials, academics, artists, journalists, civil society practitioners, private sector representatives, young professionals and students as well as other interested individuals from across the world.

If you would like to reserve a position and participate in the symposia, please click on the link below and fill out the online application form:

Participant Papers »

The Academy for Cultural Diplomacy encourages academic research and analysis of issues related to the goals of the Symposia, and would therefore like to welcome participants to submit a paper they would like to be considered for delivery at the Symposium. Following the Symposium, the papers will be included in the proposal document that will be issued and sent to all governments and leaders of the international community. To read articles submitted by participants of our international conferences or to submit a paper please click here ».