2025 Paris New Humanity Representation Activities

21.04.2026

The main activities carried out at the New Humanity NGO office in Paris were the following:

  • The 18th International Forum of NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO entitled “Greening Education Partnership: NGOs committed to sustainable impact” https://ngo-unesco.net/greening-education-26
  • Brussels Conference: participation in the New Humanity – MPPU Meeting (7–9 April 2025).
  • Brest 2025 Ocean Conference: support to Thalassia Giaccone on the global conference ‘Oceans Conference & Exposition 2025 Brest’ completed.

Participation in activities:

  • Mondiacult: participation in the event held in Barcelona. An important moment for networking and participation in conferences and round tables on transversal and relevant topics for New Humanity. Contact with institutional actors and key figures. Approaching and exploring contacts with other UNESCO sectors (culture, youth in the cultural sector, NGOs, etc.)
  • Meetings with the cultural sector: thanks to the meetings at Mondiacult, contacts were established with key figures in the cultural sector, with whom meetings were held and collaborations and possibilities of participation in contexts of common interest were explored.
  • Presentation of the MediterraNEW project to the youth office of the youth culture section: presentation of the project results to the youth section. Exchanges of messages were held in order to offer the necessary resources to increase the visibility and dissemination of the project.

Youth Section – International Representation and Forum:

  • UN ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025: Participation promotion completed.
  • 14th UNESCO Youth Forum: successful participation in the initial consultation to define the framework of the forum. Dissemination of the report of the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum.
  • Nairobi 2025 – “City, Community, Care: Youth in Action for Sustainable Peace”: led the coordination of digital communications for the event.

Working Group on Interreligious Dialogue:

The NGO Group for Interreligious Dialogue, recognised at the 2024 International Conference of NGOs, has carried out several activities over the past two years, the latest of which was to reintroduce the term ‘interreligious dialogue’ in the upcoming document C/5. Following various contacts and discussions, the Italian delegation examined the issue of interreligious dialogue and wanted to take the initiative to propose an amendment to document 43C/5. The group worked closely together to develop the explanatory statement and wording of this amendment. Here are the main results:

  • Reintroducing interreligious dialogue: in one of UNESCO’s programmes (43/C5) it was the main event of this year, the culmination of 3 years of work. The group of 9 NGOs led by Chantal, with the decisive contribution of Fabio Petito, professor at the University of Sussex (United Kingdom), convinced the Italian ambassador to present an amendment to the text of 43/C5 to add the term “interreligious dialogue”. The amendment was adopted by the Executive Council with the support of 15 countries and was not challenged by the General Conference. (cf. Appendix 1). This work was made by Chantal and Mariannick.
  • The Permanent Observer of the Holy See, Archbishop Soviguidi, supported and encouraged the work on interreligious dialogue. He congratulated the NGOs before his departure. His successor, Archbishop Campisi, was invited by the Italian ambassador to UNESCO with Fabio Petito and Chantal for NH to prepare the strategy for the adoption of the amendment.
  • On June 18, 2025, the World Buddhist Organization proposed to the NGO group to provide the speakers for a round table entitled “Education for dialogue, a prelude to well-being.” Roberto Signor, of the Center for Interreligious Dialogue of the Focolare Movement, spoke on behalf of NH.
  • During the General Conference of States held in Uzbekistan and not in Paris, the New Humanity address to the States on the theme of interreligious dialogue was delivered by the representative of IFOR.

 

Members of the New Humanity NGO representation in Paris:

  • Chantal Grevin, as Main Representative – Institutional relations, Interreligious Dialogue Working Group, team coordination
  • Marie-Annick Benoit, as Additional Representative – Interreligious Dialogue Working Group
  • Mr. Juan Camilo Poveda Ramirez, as Additional Representative – Culture sector, institutional relations, general support
  • Alexander Simoen, as Additional Representative – Education sector and liaison with the Catholic NGOs Working Group (CCIC)
  • Ana Clara Giovani, as Additional Representative – Facilitation of interreligious dialogue, support for specific activities
  • Melissa Mejía Flórez, as Additional Representative and NGO youth representative
  • Thalassia Giaccone, as Additional Representative

 

To know more about the New Humanity Paris Representation team, see: https://www.new-humanity.org/en/where-we-are/paris/