All set for UNAOC Forum: more than 2,500 delegates from across the world are expected to attend the 4th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum

Among the participants are presidents, ministers, leaders of several world forums, representatives of civil societies, youth groups, officials of research facilities and journalists.

The three-day meeting will discuss the possibilities to improve relations across cultures, combat prejudices and build lasting peace.

Held under the aegis of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Forum will count among its attendees HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and the UN Alliance of Civilizations President Jorge Sampaio.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=475151&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56

Muslim-West ties main challenge: Jordan King

The Muslim-West relations are one of the central challenges the world faces with 75 per cent of all current conflicts involve Muslim nations due to misconception and mistrust, King Abdullah II of Jordan told a conference in Liwa on Thursday.

In the speech read out by Prince Ghazi bin Mohammed of Jordan, King Abdullah said: “Muslims and Christians together make up over 55 per cent of the world’s population, and 75 per cent of all conflicts in the world involve Muslim-majority countries. Thus, the issue of Muslim-West relations is obviously one of the central challenges for the future of the world as such.”

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2011/December/theuae_December253.xml&section=theuae&col=

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee, Tawakkul Karman Receive 2011 Nobel Peace Prize

Three women who fought injustice, dictatorship and sexual violence in Liberia and Yemen accepted the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize on Saturday, calling on repressed women worldwide to rise up against male supremacy.

Karman is the first Arab woman to win the prize and at 32 the youngest peace laureate ever. A journalist and founder of the human rights group Women Journalists without Chains, she also is a member of the Islamic party Islah.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/10/nobel-peace-prize-_n_1140618.html