International Centre for the Rapprochement of Cultures under the auspices of UNESCO in Almaty
International Centre for the Rapprochement of Cultures under the auspices Of UNESCO in AlmatyThe activities of the International Centre for the Rapprochement of Cultures (ICRC), under the auspices of UNESCO (Category 2) in Almaty, aim to contribute to building the principles of UNESCO’s mandate for peaceful, equitable coexistence in the minds of people of various human communities regardless of racial, ethnic, or religious identity.
The ICRC was established on the basis of the Centre for the Rapprochement of Cultures to the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan in accordance with an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Director-General of UNESCO from June 25, 2019. This agreement was the result of the development of an initiative by the Republic of Kazakhstan for the UN Secretary General Assembly to proclaim the period 2013-2022 the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (resolution 67/104 December 2012).
ICRC is a unique platform for international cooperation aimed at:
- Fundamental and applied research into the origins and mutual influences of cultures.
- Implementation of activities bringing cultures closer together including forums, conferences, round tables, seminars, and trainings.
- Spreading ideas of intercultural dialogue for peace and sustainable development among an international audience, contributing to the emergence of a global consciousness respectful of universal values and preserving cultural diversity.
ICRC collaborators include scientists and highly qualified specialists in the fields of history, archaeology, philology, cultural anthropology, religious studies, sociology, journalism, biology, economics, and international relations.
The rapprochement of cultures is inextricably linked with the development of a culture of knowledge and thereby contributes to the building of knowledgeable societies. Therefore, ICRC, relying on its own scientific potential and cooperation with other educational, scientific, and cultural institutions carries out:
- Research on the origins of ethnic groups, cultures, and cults to facilitate their rapprochement.
- Studies regarding the Great Silk Roads, which shed light on the complex processes of mutual influence of different civilizations and cultures that are important for understanding the causes of intercultural dialogue, the setting up of multi-cultural societies and their identity in different parts of the world. It seeks to enhance this heritage through the museum exhibition "Culture and Religions on the Great Silk Road".
It has initiated:
The establishment of the “Eurasian Universities Network for the culture of knowledge without borders” under ICRC patronage, which provides the necessary assistance for the timely and full transfer of information to UNESCO. The first international meeting of the Network members is to be held in Almaty in 2020.
International Conference on "Culture and Religion on the Great Silk Road" - Online from Almaty, 12 November 2020
