The Asia Europe People’s Forum (AEPF) was launched in 1996 in Bangkok alongside the first ASEM summit. AEPF is a network of people’s organisations, coalitions, NGOs, academics and trade unions representing citizens and parliamentarians, who are working in different ways for social, economic, environmental and political justice across, and within Asia and Europe.

Since it began, AEPF has created new political spaces for dialogue, solidarity, action and has developed creative and realistic recommendations and strategies to address the challenges emerging from both regions.

As this critical conference reflects and takes stock of current and future ASEM processes, this briefing sets out some of AEPF’s recommendations and ideas for future ASEM’s to become more accountable, transparent, relevant and influential in meeting the needs and aspirations of the people of Asia and Europe.

(UNESCO) The year 2010 will be celebrated as the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures (see resolutions below). The goal of the International Year consists in making the rapprochement of cultures the hallmark of all policy-making at local, national, regional and international levels, involving the greatest number of relevant stakeholders.

The Mediterranean’s largest civil gathering for dialogue

With the announcement that 2012 will see the next Anna Lindh Forum, over 1000 civil society organizations commit to common road map for restoring trust in shared values

Barcelona, 7 March 2010: The Anna Lindh Forum for Intercultural Dialogue concluded today after three days of active debate and common activities, having successfully brought together for the very first time the largest number of civil society member organisations from all 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Eventhough large parts of the proposal have been implemented by the Anna Lindh Foundation, such as the  holding of the first Anna Lindh Forum, which was held in Barcelona in March 2010, other parts of the proposal still deserve some attention. This is due to the fact that the Anna Lindh Forum in its current shape and form is far from perfect, in particular, in the area of NGO members participation in the steering of the Forum. Most importantly, there needs to be a way in which member organizations take more active part in preparation of the Forum, and which enhances their ability to act collectively through a democratically elected body.

These aspects and more are all covered in the poposal below. We would appreciate your constructive comments and suggestions.

“Creativity, Mobility and Dialogue”

Preparatory Meeting for the Anna Lindh Forum 2010

Here are the reports of the 5 working groups, who met in Rhodes, Greece 1-4 October 2009. The working groups were in arts and education, media, translation, mobility and networks.

Will rising "Christian fundamentalism" in Europe undermine fundamental human rights?

(Report by the BBC ) Swiss voters have supported a referendum proposal to ban the building of minarets, official results show.

More than 57% of voters and 22 out of 26 cantons - or provinces - voted in favour of the ban. The proposal had been put forward by the Swiss People's Party, (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which says minarets are a sign of Islamisation. The government opposed the ban, saying it would harm Switzerland's image, particularly in the Muslim world.