UNPO General Secretary Erkin Alptekin was elected a member of the working committee of a new civil society - human rights initiative called "Towards a Network of Networks". The constituent meeting of its founding council was held in Barcelona, 31 March - 1 April 2001. More than 40 international NGOs and personalities active in the field of human rights participated, including among others, UNPO, EarthAction, Transparency International, The World Conservation Union, Human Rights Watch, and the World Federation of United Nations Associations.

Frederico Mayor Zaragoza, former Director General of UNESCO, has played a leading role in this civil society initiative, aiming at weaving structures and forums of opinion to effectively promote peace, endogenous development, dignity and human rights.