Celebrate diversity

It is not about costumes, casting or special effects. It is about migration, diversity and social inclusion. The participants are not renowned film makers from Hollywood or other parts of the world but children and youth in the age groups 9-25.

Welcome to the annual PLURAL+ International Youth Video Festival, a joint project of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Recognizing youth as powerful agents of social change in a world often characterised by intolerance and cultural and religious divisions, PLURAL+ invites youth to address key challenges in their communities related to migrant integration, inclusiveness, identity, diversity, human rights and social cohesiveness, both at local and global levels.

The festival 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.

In the words of Marc Scheuer, Director of the UNAOC, “PLURAL+ videos fit very well in this very relevant conversation—how to build more inclusive societies where we can all live together in harmony.”

According to Michele Klein-Solomon, permanent observer to the United Nations, IOM, “PLURAL+ videos touch very sensitive issues in a very real way. 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.”

Independent Media Producer and PLURAL+ 2011 jury member Renzo Devia says, “I was amazed to see how these young filmmakers created these videos and I really appreciate the work they put into these productions. Probably the most impressive thing is the stories. I learned a lot from different cultures and social issues in various nations”.

With regionalism, racial discrimination, casteism and communalism rearing its ugly head in many parts of our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual country, it is important that we, including the Government, NGOs and media, engage the nation’s vibrant youth force on issues pertaining to migration, diversity and social inclusion.

Indeed, with a chequered history of pluralism and multi-culturalism, Indian youth can be role models for the rest of the world. They just need a platform.

The author is the director of the Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony (India).