The protection and promotion of forms of pluralism and cultural diversity are among the important human values confirmed by many international and local conventions. Based on the responsibility of the Forum for Dialogue of Cultures towards this issue, and in support of the efforts of state institutions in this context, the Forum organized two workshops on pluralism and cultural diversity in Alexandria Governorate from last December 14 to 16. The two workshops included a number of sessions that dealt with the concept of pluralism and diversity, and with the issue of combating hate speech. They discussed as well the most important international and local conventions that support pluralism and cultural diversity. The participants engaged through various working groups with the most important texts for supporting and promoting diversity and pluralism. These texts are included in the international and local conventions such as the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity adopted in 2001, the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions adopted in 2005, the Egyptian Constitution of 2014, and the National Human Rights Strategy issued in 2021.

This activity comes at the end of the first year of the Program for Supporting Cohesion and Peace in Egyptian Society, which extends until 2024. The Forum for Intercultural Dialogue is implementing it in cooperation and partnership with the European Union. A diverse group of academics, media professionals, religious leaders and representatives of civil society in the governorates of Cairo, Alexandria, Minya, Assiut, participate in the program.