New York – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) are once again inviting young media makers from around the world to submit original and creative videos on the PLURAL+ themes of migration, diversity, social inclusion and the prevention of xenophobia. Since 2009, PLURAL+ has received more than 1,500 video submissions that touch on global issues and offer creative solutions for developing peaceful coexistence in diverse cultural contexts.

The PLURAL+ organizers, UNAOC and IOM, are committed to promoting the mobility and integration of migrants, with a focus on young people. This partnership was formed to foster socially cohesive, vibrant and resilient societies and to counter discrimination, marginalization and exclusion of vulnerable groups around the world.

“We recognize youth as powerful agents with great potential to address the current toxic narrative around migration in which migrants are seen often in a negative light.” said IOM Director General William Lacy Swing. “These vibrant, thoughtful, inspiring videos leave us with an unmistakable feeling of hope for our world and a brighter future in which inclusion is the norm and plurality is celebrated.”

As incidences of discrimination and violence are on the rise worldwide, it is important to create spaces for people to speak out against intolerance and xenophobia. PLURAL+ not only provides young people with an effective platform to raise their voices on key migration and diversity issues, but also reinforces the firm belief of IOM and UNAOC that the powerful expression of youth creativity is a force to be reckoned with.

“PLURAL+ provides youth around the world with the opportunity to submit real stories told by real people which, when widely disseminated, help to foster intercultural dialogue and understanding as well as respect for diversity and tolerance,” said UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser.

Each year, a prestigious international jury selects three PLURAL+ International Jury Award winners in several age categories (U12, 13-17, 18-25). The International Jury Award winners will be invited to New York – with all travel expenses paid – to present their work at the PLURAL+ 2018 Festival Awards Ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters in November 2018. In addition, a video will also be selected for the PLURAL+ Special Award on the Prevention of Xenophobia; the winner of this award will also be invited to PLURAL+ 2018 Awards Ceremony with all travel expenses paid.

PLURAL+ partner organizations will provide other awards and professional opportunities to the makers of at least 20 other submitted videos. Award-winning videos will be screened at film and video festivals, conferences and events around the world.

For more information, please contact Rahma Soliman, IOM New York, Email: rsoliman@iom.int and/or PLURAL+, Email:  plural@unaoc.org