The first session of the IPU Committee on UN Affairs focused on a Hearing with the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, President Jorge Sampaio. The Committee was presented with the main objectives and initiatives of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAoC). The Committee members engaged in an interactive discussion with the UNAoC High Representative. The Committee members discussed how parliamentary engagement in the promotion of intercultural dialogue can be enhanced, particularly in the development and implementation of the IPU Resolution on "Ensuring respect for and peaceful co-existence between all religious communities and beliefs in a globalised world". The High Representative indicated that this is a very crucial topic that does not receive enough emphasis on the global agenda. It would be important to address this issue and consideration should be given to restore trust between Parliaments and the people by the development of a new agenda for living together, public hearings, sharing views, inter- cultural diversity programmes and dialogues, youth -, media - and migration level discussion and dealing with populism and extremism. The IPU must consider taking the discussion further during the 126th IPU Assembly, Uganda (March 2012).