Joint Isreali-Palestinian orchestra designated as UN global advocate for tolerance

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday designated the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra as a UN Global Advocate for Cultural Understanding to promote tolerance, understanding and unity among peoples of different cultural and religious identities.

The designation took place at an event at the UN Office at Geneva, attended by the secretary-general and the world-renowned conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim, the orchestra's co-founder and a UN messenger of peace.

"The work of the orchestra is testimony to the power of music to break down barriers and to build bridges between communities. I am delighted that the orchestra has committed to help us in our work towards creating a more peaceful, inclusive and united world," said Ban.

Co-founded by Barenboim and the late Palestinian scholar Edward Said in 1999, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra unites young musicians from Israel, Palestine and several Arab countries to promote inter-cultural dialogue through music.

The orchestra has performed at the main international festivals and music centers, as well as at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations in New York, and the Human Rights Council Room in Geneva.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), established in 2005 as the political initiative of the UN secretary-general, will support the orchestra in its mandate as global advocate. Endit