Initiative for a UN Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace
To:
Leaders of faith communities
Leaders of religious organizations
Leaders of inter-religious organizations and networks
We are pleased to share with you a powerful emerging initiative in the interfaith field aimed at having the United Nations declaring 2011-2020 as “Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace”. A draft proposal is attached. Together with inviting you to support this initiative, we will appreciate receiving your feedback as religious leader. You will find at the end of this letter some specific questions we would like you to address in your reply.
There is a growing recognition of the role played by individuals and communities of diverse religions and beliefs in all societies. Sadly, many situations of injustice and conflict have religious or ideological origins and dimensions. At the same time, there is also a sense of hope that comes from the development of a number of religious and interreligious initiatives committed to peace building.
Within the UN the role of interreligious dialogue and cooperation for peace has been clearly expressed in recent resolutions of its General Assembly which promote “interreligious dialogue” as well as “religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation.” Worth mentioning is also the “Alliance of Civilizations” initiative, launched by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in July 2005.
In October 2007, the General Assembly convened a “high level dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Cooperation for the promotion of tolerance, understanding and universal respect on matters of religion or belief and cultural diversity, in coordination with other similar initiatives in this area”. In December 2007, the General Assembly decided “to declare 2010 as the International Year for Rapprochement of Cultures” and recommended that “during the course of the year appropriate events be organized on interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace.”
The time seems ripe to build on the momentum that has been built around the importance of interreligious dialogue and cooperation and work for the launch of a “UN Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace 2011-2020″.
A number of individuals, interfaith and faith organizations have worked for some time to develop the concept for this Decade and to build support for it. A significant step in this process was a consultation, hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO), in Bossey, Geneva, in January 2008. The participants represented a wide range of faith organizations, UN agencies and UN member states. The consultation produced a draft document that describes the main ideas behind the suggested Decade and the Coalition we want to build in support of it. Another result of the consultation was the formation of a Provisional Steering Committee that will take responsibility for the coordination of the process leading to a successful UN General Assembly Resolution that launches the Decade.
The Draft Document: “Proposal for a UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION FOR PEACE” is attached to this letter for your information.
We kindly ask you to read the document and seriously consider your support for the idea of this Decade. You may do this by responding to the Coordinator, Dr. Gerardo Gonzalez, E-mail: decade at vtr dot net
We will appreciate your considering the following questions in your response:
1. What elements of the proposed DECADE are of particular interest to you and your organization?
2. How can this proposal be strengthened?
3. Would your organization be willing to be a partner in the coalition? What may be your specific contributions?
4. Please, confirm your contact information.
On behalf of the Provisional Steering Committee we strongly encourage you as soon as possible to join what we hope will be a strong movement that will make the United Nations Decade of interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace more than a ceremonial concept.
We can build a momentum that makes the implementation of the Decade dynamic, and significantly impact the work towards peace throughout our world.
Warm regards
Stein Villumstad
Chairperson
Provisional Steering Committee
Trevor Davies
Deputy Chairperson
Provisional Steering Committee
Gerardo Gonzalez
Coordinator
