MENA2050 was honored to participate as a partner organization in the inaugural KARAMAH Summit, held in the historic city of Fez, Morocco. Convened together with the World Association for Culture and Heritage (WACH), the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD), the summit brought together former heads of state, ministers, diplomats, academics, civil society leaders, and international experts to explore the theme: “The Dialogue of Civilizations at the Heart of Human Dignity.”

The gathering provided a unique platform for global leaders and practitioners to examine the role of cultural diplomacy, ethical governance, and intercultural dialogue in building a more cooperative and resilient international order.

MENA2050 at the Forefront of Cultural Diplomacy and Dialogue

MENA2050 members contributed directly to the summit's core discussions, driving conversations on governance, mediation, and conflict prevention:

• The CEO, Mr. Eli Bar-On participated in the panel “Cultural Diplomacy, Soft Power and Conflict Prevention.” Alongside distinguished policymakers and international leaders, he discussed how intercultural dialogue and soft power can contribute to conflict prevention, strengthen regional cooperation, and foster long-term stability across the Euro-Mediterranean region.

• Amb. Salwa Dallalah (Member, MENA2050) moderated the panel “Cultural Mediation and Preservation – Dialogue Actors in Service of Action.” This discussion explored the vital role of culture, heritage, and civic engagement in promoting understanding, cooperation, and meaningful action across societies.

• Prof. Micheline Ishay (Member of the IMEC Task Force, MENA2050) contributed to the panel “Karamah Diplomacy – Towards a New Paradigm of Ethical Governance.” Her intervention focused on how human dignity and ethical principles can inform future models of governance and international cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world.

• Mr. Roger Bertozzi (Chair of the IMEC Task Force, MENA2050) played a significant role in advancing one of the summit’s most important outcomes: the development of the Fez Declaration on Human Dignity and Universal Humanism, a document that seeks to establish human dignity as a unifying principle across cultures, faiths, and nations.

  
  

  The Fez Declaration on Human Dignity and Universal Humanism

One of the most significant achievements of the KARAMAH Summit was the formal adoption of the Fez Declaration on Human Dignity and Universal Humanism.

In a deeply meaningful gesture, the declaration was formally deposited at Al Quaraouiyine, widely recognized as the world’s oldest continually operating university. This act symbolically linked a contemporary diplomatic initiative to centuries of scholarship, dialogue, and deep intellectual exchange.

The declaration reflects the summit’s core conviction that human dignity can serve as a concrete foundation for international cooperation, peaceful coexistence, and shared progress. It reinforces the vital importance of open dialogue as a practical, modern tool for addressing contemporary global challenges.

Turning Dialogue into Lasting Regional Cooperation and Impact

At a time of growing geopolitical fragmentation and uncertainty, MENA2050 believes that dialogue must move beyond symbolic exchanges and become a catalyst for concrete cooperation. Sustainable regional resilience depends not only on formal political agreements but also on the vibrant networks that connect universities, research institutions, entrepreneurs, cultural organizations, civil society actors, and young leaders across borders.

The themes explored during the KARAMAH Summit closely align with MENA2050’s ongoing mission to promote practical solutions rooted in dialogue, innovation, inclusion, and shared responsibility. By fostering meaningful connections between people, institutions, and ideas, MENA2050 seeks to transform dialogue into cooperation and cooperation into lasting regional resilience.