Children And Young People Use Video Cameras To Fight Intolerance And Develop Social Inclusiveness

NEW YORK, November 18th 2009 - The award winners of PLURAL+, the international youth-produced video festival on migration, identity and diversity, will be announced at a gala event on 18 December 2010 in New York.

Using video cameras, children and young people from every corner of the world created their vision of a world free of prejudice, stereotypes, discrimination and intolerance. Responding to an invitation by the UN Alliance of Civilizations and the International Organization for Migration, they produced short videos addressing the challenges of diversity and integration as well as denouncing injustices while proposing their own original solutions to create inclusive societies.

Recognizing youth as powerful agents of social change in a world often characterized by intolerance, and cultural and religious divisions, PLURAL+ is aimed at involving youth in addressing the key challenges in their community related to migrant integration, inclusiveness, identity, diversity, human rights and social cohesiveness.

More that 150 entries from 36 countries around the world were received. Members of the PLURAL+ International Jury, including prestigious film industry personalities such as award‐winning Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami and New York Film Festival Director Richard Pe�a, will announce the awards on 18 December - International Migrants Day - at an awards gala attended by senior UN representatives at the Paley Center for Media in New York.

An initiative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations and the International Organization for Migration, PLURAL+ is organized in collaboration with 18 other international partners, including the Anna Lindh Foundation, the Royal Film Commission of Jordan, Chinh India, UNESCOCat, Red Unial, COPEAM, BakaFORUM, Roots & Routes, NoGhetto, Al Jadeed Television and UNICEF.

ENDS