The idea and initiative for a Civil Society Platform for Intercultural Dialogue, which is contextualised in the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, came from the European Cultural Foundation and the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage.

The activities of the official Year will focus on increasing EU citizens' and inhabitants' appreciation of diversity, and on enabling them to cope with and benefit from diversity. The platform on the other hand will help advance the practice of intercultural dialogue where diversity is in proximity: Ethnic diversity due to old or new migratory flows in urban environments.
While the platform is an initiative from the cultural sector, organisations from the fields of education, youth, social affairs, human rights, migration, anti-discrimination, etc. are invited as partners. Cross sectoral collaboration is key to the endeavour of this platform to advance intercultural dialogue practice.

Key objectives of the platform's work are:
* heighten the impact and effectiveness of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and ensure it has a legacy
* share concepts and practice of intercultural dialogue
* work towards integrated strategies for intercultural dialogue
* mobilise all sectors concerned to have a voice
* contribute to policy analysis and development
influence cultural policy-making

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