United State - IOM and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) again invite the world’s youth to submit original and creative videos focusing on PLURAL+ themes of migration, diversity and social inclusion.
 
Recognizing youth as powerful agents of social change in a world often characterized by intolerance, and cultural and religious divisions, PLURAL+ invites young people to address key challenges related to migrant integration, inclusiveness, identity, diversity, human rights and social cohesiveness, both at local and global levels.  

Young persons up to 25 years old are invited to submit short videos of five minutes maximum in length.

“PLURAL+ videos touch very sensitive issues in a very real way,” says Michele Klein-Solomon, IOM Permanent Observer to the United Nations. “They look at the realities that people are facing.  We like to see young people expressing their profound ideas in a manner that allows the opening of a dialogue.”

Jordi Torrent, UNAOC Project Manager, Media and Information Literacy, added: “PLURAL+ videos fit very well in this very relevant conversation: how to build more inclusive societies where we can all live together in harmony.”

PLURAL+ supports young people’s expression of their opinions by providing them with a variety of media platforms and distribution networks, including broadcasts, video festivals, conferences and events around the world.  PLURAL+ also reinforces the firm belief of IOM and UNAOC that youth are powerful and creative agents of social change.

A prestigious international jury will select three winners in each age category (9-12, 13-17, and 18-25).  

All the winners will be invited to New York, all travel expenses paid, to present their work at the PLURAL + 2013 Awards Ceremony at the Paley Center for Media in December 2013.

Mariana Araujo, a member of the PLURAL+ 2012 international jury commented, “For me PLURAL+ is the best link between intercultural dialogue and intergenerational justice.  I can't imagine a better way to understand the other but through their own eyes and listen with their ears.   With these videos I can internalize their emotions and realities through their stories.”
 
PLURAL+ 2013 deadline for video submission is 30 June, 2013. Early submissions are encouraged.

Further information, including guidelines, regulations, awards, and the entry form can be found at the PLURAL+ website at:
www.unaoc.org/pluralplus

You can watch PLURAL+ 2012 winners here:
http://pluralplus.unaoc.org/winning-videos/plural-2012/

PLURAL+ is organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the International Organization for Migration with the collaboration of many international partners, including: Red UNIAL, Gulen Institute, MTS Travel, SIGNIS, Global Block, Humanity Without Borders Foundation, Television America Latina, Universal Forum of Cultures Foundation, NEXOS Alianza, CHINH India, Turkish Cultural Center of New York, COPEAM, Without Borders Film Festival, IAAI GloCha, Doha Center for Media Freedom, CNTV Chile, Amara, Scalabrini International Migration Network, IUEDESP Spain, Balkan Media Education Centre, Waging Nonviolence USA, IOM Migration Research and Training Centre Korea, Anna Lindh Foundation, United Nations Television, RAI TV Scuola, GoodnessTV, Cine y Salud Spain, and the Paley Center for Media of New York.

For more information, please contact: plural@unaoc.org