The horrific attacks in Mumbai, like a number of recent overseas conflicts and attacks,
have an impact on communities in the countries where they take place but also far
beyond their shores – including people and communities in the UK with links of
family and faith.
As the Co-Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Inter Faith Network for the UK we wish to
express our sympathy and offer our prayers for those injured or bereaved in the
Mumbai attacks, as well as in others; to condemn terrorist violence; and to affirm the
crucial importance of work to increase inter religious and inter community
understanding in the UK as well as internationally.
Here in the UK, it is particularly important for the upholding and deepening of good
inter faith relations that we seek ways to handle well the impact of overseas events of
this kind and are able to talk together about these in ways which increase
understanding rather than leading to suspicion and distrust or inter community tension.
Rt Rev Dr Tom Butler (Co-Chair)
Dr Nawal K Prinja (Co-Chair)
Dr Manazir Ahsan MBE (Vice-Chair)
Mr Dorab Mistry (Vice-Chair)
Dr Indarjit Singh OBE (Vice-Chair)
Mr Vivian Wineman (Vice-Chair)
—Civilians trapped in zones of conflict in Sri Lanka have been facing unbearable conditions—
In such situations, international recognized human rights and humanitarian laws should be observed. Displaced persons have the right to return to their homes in the conflict zones or relocate to any other part of the country. Tragically, this has not been the reality for many displaced persons in Sri Lanka for many years. UN and humanitarian organisations have a legitimate and vital role to play in securing the lives of the populace. A democratic government that seeks reconciliation with all sections of its people for sustainable peace will prioritize the lives and security of its citizens whether they are living under government or rebel control.
We believe it is necessary for civil society organizations to voice their concern for those who have been displaced and who face the brunt of war in the north. As religious leaders, we urge the establishment of a humanitarian corridor in accordance with international law to enable the populations trapped in the war zones to freely move out if they decide to leave those areas. As religious leaders, we declare that we are prepared to step forward to both negotiate such a humanitarian corridor with the relevant parties, and to oversee the establishment of a mutually acceptable zone of peace in accordance with international law where the displaced may find shelter in security until they can be resettled in their homes.
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The special session of the UN General Assembly dealing with religious dialogue and cooperation for peace has recently concluded.
You would, I thought, appreciate having some of the documents related to this important session. You will find these statements attached.
Allow me to express our shared gratitude for so many in Religions for Peace who, over many years, helped to pioneer the concerns that were examined in the UN General Assembly.
Yours in partnership,
In the presence of this gathering of international leaders and representatives and members of the General Assembly—the conscience of the United Nations—arid in front of the whole world, we state with a unified voice that religions through which Almighty God sought to bring happiness to mankind should not be turned into instruments to cause misery. Human beings were created as equals and partners on this planet; either they live together in peace and harmony, or they will inevitably be consumed by the flames of misunderstanding, malice and hatred.
Dear Friends,
Throughout history, preoccupation with differences between the followers of religions and cultures has engendered intolerance, causing devastating wars and considerable bloodshed without any sound logical or ideological justification. It is high time for us to learn from the harsh lessons of the past and concur on the ethics and ideals in which we all believe, Matters on which we differ Will be decided by our Omniscient Creator on the Day of Judgment. Every tragedy suffered in today’s world is ultimately a result of the abandonment of the paramount principle enunciated by all religions and cultures: the roots of all global crises can be found in human denial of the eternal principle of justice.
Terrorism and criminality are the enemies of every religion and every civilization. They would not have appeared except for the absence of the principle of tolerance. The alienation and the sense of being lost which affects the lives of many of our young leading them to drugs and crime, became widespread due to the dissolution of family bonds that Almighty God intended to be firm and strong. Our dialogue, conducted in a constructive manner, should, by the grace of God, revive and reinstate these lofty ideals among peoples and nations- No doubt, God willing, this will constitute a glorious triumph of what is most noble over what is most evil in human beings, and will grant mankind hope of a future in which justice, security and a decent life will prevail over injustice, fear and poverty.
Dear Friends,
I wish to thank H.E. the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting. I am also grateful to my friends, the world’s leaders from the East and the West, for attending. I take pride in their friendship and participation. On this occasion permit me to invite the participants in the Madrid Dialogue to elect a committee to represent them and undertake the task of conducting the dialogue in the coming days and years.
I can assure them and all the States of the world, their peoples, their leaders and their organizations, that our concern for the dialogue stems from our Islamic faith and values, and our compassion for the human condition, in order to overcome its miseries.
We will continue what we have commenced, extending our hand to all those Advocating peace, justice and tolerance.
In conclusion, I would like to remind all of you, and myself, of the words of the Holy Qur’an.: “O Mankind! We have created you from a single pair of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that ye may know each other. Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you.”
Peace and the mercy and blessings of God be with you.
United Nations A/63/L.24/Rev.1
General Assembly
Distr.: Limited
11 November 2008
Original: English
Sixty-third session
Agenda item 45
Culture of peace
Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Yemen: revised draft resolution
Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue,
understanding and cooperation for peace
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,( 1 Resolution 217 A (III).) in particular the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Recalling its resolutions 56/6 of 9 November 2001, on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, 57/6 of 4 November 2002, concerning the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, 57/337 of 3 July 2003, on the prevention of armed conflict, 58/128 of 19 December 2003, on the promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation, 59/23 of 11 November 2004, on the promotion of interreligious dialogue, 59/143 of 15 December 2004, on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, 60/167 of 16 December 2005, on human rights and cultural diversity, and 62/157 of 18 December 2007, on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief,
Recalling also its resolution 62/90 of 17 December 2007 on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, and the declaration of 2010 as the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures,
Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind,
Taking note of the various initiatives at the national, regional and international levels to enhancing dialogue, understanding and cooperation among religions, cultures and civilizations, which are mutually reinforcing and interrelated, inter alia, the fourth Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace and Harmony, held in Phnom Penh from 3 to 6 April 2008, (See A/62/949.) the Third Global Inter-Media Dialogue held in Bali, Indonesia, on 7 and 8 May 2008, the Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting Interfaith Dialogue, held in Amsterdam from 3 to 5 June 2008, (See A/63/510.) the World Conference on Dialogue, held in Madrid from 16 to 18 July 2008, (See A/63/499.) the Sixth General Meeting of the World Public Forum “Dialogue of Civilizations”, held in Rhodes, Greece, from 9 to 13 October 2008, the Second Alliance of Civilizations Forum, to be held in Istanbul in April 2009, the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development, to be held in Manila from 26 to 28 May 2009, the Fifth Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue, to be held in Australia in 2009, the Parliament of the World’s Religions, to be held in Melbourne, Australia, in December 2009, and the Third Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, to be held in Astana in 2009, with the participation and technical assistance of the United Nations system,
Affirming the importance of sustaining the process of engaging all stakeholders in the interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue within the appropriate initiatives at the various levels, Recognizing the commitment of all religions to peace,
1. Affirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and of the culture of peace;
2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace; (A/63/262.)
3. Also takes note of the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on interreligious dialogue in the context of its efforts to promote dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, as well as activities related to a culture of peace, and welcomes its focus on concrete action at the global, regional and subregional levels and its flagship project on the promotion of interfaith dialogue;
4. Reaffirms the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights1 and other instruments relating to human rights and international law, the universal nature of these rights and freedoms being beyond question;
5. Encourages the promotion of dialogue among the media from all cultures and civilizations, emphasizes that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, and reaffirms that the exercise of this right carries with it special duties and responsibilities and may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall be only such as are provided by law and necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals;
6. Encourages Member States to consider, as and where appropriate, initiatives that identify areas for practical action in all sectors and levels of society for the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance, understanding and cooperation, inter alia, the ideas suggested during the High-level Dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace held on 4 and 5 October 2007, including the idea of an enhanced process of dialogue among world religions;
7. Takes note of the plenary meeting of the General Assembly on the culture of peace, held on 12 and 13 November 2008, during the sixty-third session of the Assembly, in which the President of the Assembly had invited participation at the highest possible level;
8. Requests the Office for Economic and Social Council Support and Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, which plays the focal point role on interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational matters, to coordinate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in facilitating consideration of the possibility of proclaiming a United Nations decade for interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace;
9. Takes note of the Third Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace, held on 25 September 2008 in New York;
10. Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in consultation with Member States, and through extrabudgetary resources, to play a leading role in the preparations for the celebration of the International Year for Rapprochement of Cultures, in 2010, taking into account General Assembly resolution 61/185 of 20 December 2006 and the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 62/90;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution.
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In his remarks Tony Blair said that securing a global deal on climate change will be “amongst the most technically complex and politically sensitive negotiations since World War II” but that a successful outcome could kick-start new investment to reactivate the world economy.
Mr Blair said: “The choice is not between growing jobs and saving the environment but about how we grow sustainably. The latest science is clear: if we fail to start cutting global emissions soon then many of our options – on technology, adaptation and cost – will rapidly be closed down. Early action reduces costs and minimizes the need for major dislocation further down the line.
“Some people will say: with a tough economic situation we can’t afford action. I would say exactly the opposite: we have learnt enough to know that energy security as well as climate change means we must act; and the need to boost our economy gives us the chance to address some of the critical solutions to the challenge of cutting emissions.”
You can watch the full speech on YouTube
November 17, 2008 by interfaithorganisations
The 2008 meeting of representatives of International Interfaith Organisations (IION) was held in India from October 4th-7th at the Renewal Centre, Azad Road, Kochi, Kerala, in
conjunction with the Assembly of the WORLD FELLOWSHIP OF INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCILS (WFIRC), which is a member of IION.
IION participants shared in the public and plenary sessions of WIFRC and also in prayer times. IION participants met by themselves for some of the meals and during sessions designated as workshops. Sharing in the WIFRC meeting gave IION participants the opportunity to learn about the great variety of interfaith work in many parts of India. It was also a chance to make those active in India more aware of the role of international bodies.
The IION meeting began with a time of introductions in which participants also talked about the work of their organisations.
Interfaith Work at the United Nations (UN)
IION participants were grateful for and encouraged by reports of interfaith activity at the UN, which had been sent by Sister Joan Kirby (attached) and Dr Gerardo Gonzales.
They expressed their support for the Proposal for a Decade of Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace, which is already supported by several IION member organisations. It was hoped that other IION member organisations would add their support and that all IION member organisations would encourage support from their members in countries around the world.
It may also be helpful to indicate to governments that there is widespread support for this initiative.
It is important to ensure that UN member nations and NGOs are aware of the significance of the 2009 Parliament of World Religions. It was also hoped that there would be sufficient progress for this initiative for it to be highlighted at the Parliament or even for the year to be launched there.
The Parliament of World Religions.
Plans for the Parliament of World Religions, which is to be held at Melbourne, Australia, from December 3rd-9th, 2009, were explained to the IION group, which was encouraged
and impressed by the progress already made.
IION member organisations were urged to encourage awareness of and attendance at this important event. They could arrange a pre-Parliament event and try to ensure that local interfaith groups feel involved, even if no one from them can actually attend. Considerable attention is being paid by CPWR to ensuring wide reporting of the event and multi-media access. It was hoped that IION member organisations might sponsor and pay for some young people and others who would not be able to pay for themselves. The Parliament aims to be as widely representative as possible.
It was hoped that CPWR would ensure that on-going interfaith activity and organizations in different parts of the world is highlighted at the Parliament and that there would be ways of showing that the various interfaith organisations are working in partnership.
There was discussion of how this might best be achieved.
It is hoped that all IION member organisations will arrange programmes and could involve people from other IION organisations in their programmes. .
It was suggested that a page in the programme could highlight IION and its member organisations – making clear that joining these on-going interfaith organisations are a way of continuing the achievements of the Parliament. It was hoped a way could be found to put people in touch with local interfaith activities on their return home.
It was suggested that in the exhibition area, the stands of the various IION organisations could be placed together.
Future IION meetings.
No future meeting was planned, although there will be opportunities to reconnect at Melbourne. It may be possible to arrange a get-together during one of the early evening Open Space Times.
The International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) will be holding its next Congress in 2010 and would welcome participants from other interfaith organisations.
It was suggested that, with the help the Interfaith Youth Core, participation of young people at future meetings should be encouraged.
The group discussed the rapidly changing landscape of interfaith relations. Some IION member organisations are already working closely together – for example in New York – and may not need an additional meeting. There are also several new interfaith bodies, such as the Blair Foundation and initiatives of several countries in the Middle East. It may be that new structures are required. It was hoped that IION member organisations would give some thought to this. It was also recognised that the International Interfaith Centre (IIC) at Oxford has very limited resources and no longer has an office or a paid director. The work is now being carried on by IIC Trustees and Patrons.
Ways by which new technology can close the communications gap between face-to-face meetings was discussed.
IION Leaflet
www.interfaithorganisations.net
Following last years IION meeting, IIC has set up an additional website. This is intended to keep IION member organizations up to date with each other’s activities and to make them known to a wider public. The website now carries quite a lot of news of current interfaith activities, but it will become far more useful if more IION member organizations use the facility to add news directly to the website. To do so each organization should register two people at http://wordpress.com and then please notify margpaton@gmail.com.
Thanks
IION participants were most grateful for the warm welcome and hospitality, which they received from WFIRC and wish to record thanks to all the members of WFIRC and especially to Fr Albert Nambiapambil.
Thanks were expressed to Charanjit Ajit Singh for chairing the meeting. Thanks were also expressed to URI and to the Kochi Brahma Kumaris Centre for each hosting a lunch for the IION group.
Attendance
William Lesher, Chair of the Council for the Parliament of World Religions
Charanjit Ajit Singh, Chair of the International Interfaith Centre
Ajit Singh, World Congress of Faiths Committee member
Mr Thomas Matthew, President of the International Association for Religious Freedom
Mr Subriamanium, President IARF India Chapter,
Dr Asok Alex Philip Kerala IARF
Professor Jyothiraj, Kerala IARF
Fr Albert Nambiaparambil, WFIRC,
Professor Meher Master-Moos, WFIRC,
Justice P K Shamsuddin, WFIRC
Dr Abraham Karickam, URI Co-ordinator and Global Staff Member,
Atreyee Day, IIC staff member and secretary for the meeting,
Marcus Braybrooke, International Interfaith Centre and World Congress of Faiths.
Vivek Coutinho of the Focolare Movement attended as a guest.
(Not all of the above were present for all sessions)
Apologies were received from the Temple of Understanding, The Elijah Institute, the Three Faiths Forum, Minorities of Europe, Interfaith Youth Core, International Movement for a Just World, the Peace Council and Religions for Peace
Marcus Braybrooke 15.10.08
REPORT FOR IION ON INTERFAITH ACTIVITY AT THE UN
My report is written during the week of the opening of the General Assembly and I am pleased to report that Interfaith Dialogue has gained support again among significant members of the UN. Last November I described what I called a sea change at the UN regarding Interreligious Dialogue. This year interest in religious collaboration to achieve UN goals and cooperation for peace is the hope and expectation.
Following the meeting of IION in November, 2007 where John Taylor introduced the Proposal for a Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace, a group of Member States Ambassadors, representatives of more than 40 religious Institutions and of the major Interfaith Organizations met in January, 2008 at Bossey in Geneva to determine whether they could support the proposal. The expectations in the original text were altered and a revised edition gained support from the entire group. A provisional Steering Committee with Stein Villumstad as interim Chair was established to test the interest in this proposal among a significant number of Member States at the UN General Assembly.
The Religious NGOs at the United Nations Headquarters in New York have pursued the possibility of having this Proposal introduced during the 2008-09 meetings of the General Assembly. Stein Villumstad, Interim Chair of the Steering Committee, Chris Ferguson, UN Liaison for WCC, Monica Willard, URI Representative to the UN and Joan Kirby, Temple of Understanding representative to the UN are the New York members of the Provisional Steering committee established in Geneva. The task of the New Yorkers is to visit Member States to gain support and to find an appropriate Member State willing to introduce the Resolution.
During the spring and summer the support of many states was solicited. We have been able to open the dialogue and have found strong support for the core purpose of the Proposal – to assure collaboration of religious institutions throughout the world to help achieve the goals of the UN, notably Human Rights and the Millennium Development Goals. We began with the European Union since we had word of a Concept Paper that opposes the Decade. As we visited EU States we found that the main resistance is to a proliferation of Decades rather than opposition to Interreligious Dialogue. Subsequent visits gained friends who promised to support but did not offer to sponsor the Resolution until we met with Senegal. After months of waiting it was during the opening days of the General Assembly that Stein Villumstad secured a meeting with President Wade who promised that Senegal will table the resolution. This is a major step that will be pursued during the months to come.
The opening of the General Assembly sets the agenda for the coming year. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and President of the GA, Miguel d”Escoto of Nicaragua both emphasized the importance of achieving the Millennium Development Goals as a primary objective. Perhaps this is the reason that Member States are interested in the proposal coming from the RNGOS at the UN. . 29.9.08
International Interfaith Organizations Network – IION
Annual Conference 2008
Report from the Project “Towards the creation of a spiritual forum for world peace at the United Nations”
By Dr. Gerardo Gonzalez, Project Director
30 August 2008
The Project “Towards the creation of a spiritual forum for world peace at the United Nations”, launched in 1998, redefined in 2006 its main strategic objectives as: to have the United Nations declaring 2011-2020 “Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace” and creating in that framework an “interfaith forum/network” to facilitate the implementation of the DECADE.
The Partnership Committee –the project’s steering body— successfully organized in January 2008 a Consultation on a draft proposal for such a decade, which was hosted by the WCC and CONGO at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, near Geneva. The main outcomes of that consultation have been the launching of the “Initiative for a UN Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace” based on a consensual proposal (see ANNEX below), the initiation of a Coalition-in-formation of faith-based organizations in support of this initiative, which includes main global ecumenical and interfaith organizations, and the establishment of a Provisional Steering Committee for guiding this process.
At present the idea of establishing an “interfaith forum/network” remains as one possible institutional model for a “non-governmental arrangement” which would be set up by the Coalition if and when the proposed DECADE is adopted by the UN General Assembly.
Since all members of the Partnership Committee are actively involved in the DECADE initiative and the strategic objectives of the project have been partially achieved, the Partnership Committee has decided to declare the Project in state of ”vigilant hibernation”, while continuing to work together with other partner organizations for the DECADE initiative.
The “Consultation on a Proposal for a DECADE of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace” took place on 8-11 January 2008 at the WCC’s Ecumenical Institute, Chateau de Bossey, Céligny, near Geneva, Switzerland. The Consultation was convened by Dr. Gerardo Gonzalez and hosted by the World Council of Churches and by the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO). Reverend Dr. Samuel Kobia, Secretary General, WCC, and Ms. Renate Bloem, former President, CONGO, were the key speakers at the opening session.
Participants: It gathers 46 people, including representatives of international interfaith organizations; representatives from diverse religious traditions, able to bring the views and sensitivities of their own faith communities; representatives of some Member States committed to the cause of interreligious dialogue and cooperation for peace; and advisers from pertinent UN agencies and programs. Several organizations associated to IION were represented by top executive officers, such as Dirk Ficca (CPWR), Charles Gibbs (URI), Stein Villumstad (WCRP), John Taylor (IARF) and Sister Joan Kirby (Temple of Understanding).
Outcomes: The main achievement of the Bossey Consultation was the launching of the “Initiative for a UN Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace”, which implied moving from an idealistic vision promoted by a group of volunteers (Partnership Committee) to a proposal supported by an emergent Coalition-in-formation of faith-based organizations represented most of them in a Provisional Steering Committee. So, at present there are:
(i) A consensual draft proposal, which describes the main features of the proposed DECADE and outlines the steps which should be followed in order to have eventually the UN General Assembly declaring 2011-2020 “UN Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace”. A short version of that document is in Annex II.
(ii) A Provisional Steering Committee, integrated by 16 members, which is chaired by Stein Villumstad, Deputy Secretary-General of WCRP, based in New York, with Trevor Davies, Chair of the CONGO’s Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (CSVGC-Geneva), based in Geneva, as Deputy-Chairperson.
(iii) A Coalition-in-formation, with a growing number of supporting organizations (30 in August 2008), which includes several IION member organizations (CPWR, IARF, MoE, ToU, URI and WCF)
The Provisional Steering Committee together with Gerardo Gonzalez, the Coordinator, have being working in three main fields:
· Getting support from a growing number of faith-based organizations and communities which want to join the Coalition and participate in the implementation of the DECADE.
· Getting support from religious/spiritual leaders and other pertinent outstanding. personalities who are willing to become members of an Honorary Committee in support of the DECADE initiative.
· Getting political support from UN member states in order to have the proposal for the DECADE discussed by the UN General Assembly and hopefully endorsed through a resolution. This activity is being carried out by members of the PSC both in New York and Geneva.
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ANNEX
[1]Proposal for a
UNITED NATIONS DECADE
OF INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION
FOR PEACE
Advancing the Culture of Peace through dialogue and cooperation among individuals and communities of diverse religions and beliefs
Short version
The UN Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace 2011-2020 (or DECADE) is aimed at promoting partnership between UN Member States, UN Agencies, Religious and Spiritual Communities and Civil Society Organizations to advance the culture of peace.
The DECADE provides a framework to:
1. Encourage Member States publicly and constructively to engage individuals and communities of diverse religions and beliefs for the common good;
2. Strengthen and deepen the cooperation of individuals and communities of diverse religions and beliefs, locally, nationally, regionally and internationally for building a sustainable world of justice and peace;
3. Encourage individuals and communities of diverse religions and beliefs to cooperate on UN initiatives such as: Enhancement of Human Rights (including the rights of women, children and youth, refugees and migrants as well as gender equity), Millennium Development Goals, decent work for all, dialogue among civilizations, promoting a culture of peace and nonviolence, peacebuilding and shared security.
4. Promote mutual respect and trust between individuals and communities of diverse religions and beliefs through dialogue and shared action.
A. Propitious Times for a Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace
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.
The proposed DECADE will build on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010.
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.” It is worth noting that these resolutions bring “interfaith dialogue and cooperation” into the wider field of “mutually inclusive and reinforcing initiatives on inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilization dialogue and cooperation for peace,” with explicit reference to the “Alliance of Civilizations”. 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 chance to build on these UN decisions, in conjunction with mobilizing the immense spiritual, human and organizational resources of the religious communities, spiritual traditions, interfaith organizations and value-based movements, makes this the opportune time to call for a United Nations Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace.
1. Actors
United Nations The primary political and programmatic responsibility for sponsorship and implementation of the DECADE will lie with UN Member States and pertinent UN agencies.
Coalition Given the unique focus of the DECADE, religious communities, interfaith and values-based organizations will be given key responsibilities in a participatory approach to implementation, interlinked through an appropriate non-governmental arrangement established by a coalition of these supporting entities.
2. Expected Functions
The UN Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace would have the following key tasks:
· Increase dialogue between people and communities of diverse religions and beliefs, and by seeking commonalities and respecting differences, promote mutual understanding and trust;
· Enhance communication and partnership between religious and political leaders at every level around issues dealing with peace;
· Identify the root causes of violence in multireligious societies, in order to promote non-violent conflict resolution, justice, tolerance, gender equality and elimination of all forms of religiously and ideologically related injustice, violence and discrimination, leading towards harmonious coexistence between people and communities of diverse religions and beliefs;
· Identify, deepen and share the application of sacred texts, teachings –for example, the Golden Rule- and practices that promote mutual respect, cooperation, peace, justice, healing and reconciliation.
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· Proactively include women, youth and children in every aspect of the planning and implementation of programs, projects and activities;
· Build partnerships between people and communities of diverse religions and value-based organizations, and other civil society organizations, government agencies and social actors from the private sector, in the pursuit of those United Nations goals at global, national and local levels;
· Establish and strengthen relationships of cooperation with the bodies and specialized agencies within the UN system which are responsible for social, cultural, political, economic and environmental concerns.
· Promote right relations within the human family and with the Earth community.
3. UN Lead Agency
The UN General Assembly will designate an appropriate entity of its system to serve as Lead Agency for the Decade, as well as other agencies and entities that could cooperate in its implementation.
A “Plan of Action” proposed by the UN Secretary General at the launching of the DECADE will be prepared by the Lead Agency, in consultation with the appropriate state, UN and civil society actors during the two previous years. The Millennium Development Goals, Human Rights, Culture of Peace, Dialogue among Civilizations, climate change, peacebuilding and shared security appear to be the main pertinent themes in the current agenda of the United Nations to be considered in a plan of action for the DECADE.
It should be borne in mind that there are a large number of relevant programs and activities already being undertaken by religious and interfaith organizations around the world in the field of interreligious dialogue and cooperation for peace. Consequently, a Plan of Action should benefit from that experience, while adopting a flexible approach which would allow a high degree of initiative and participation by the partner organizations during the implementation of the DECADE.
4. Time Frame
The DECADE would cover the period 2011-2020, launched on the 21st of September 2010, the International Day of Peace, which would then be an annual occasion to promote the Decade’s objectives, assess the progress made, and strengthen interreligious partnership and commitment. The launch date of the Decade would also correspond with the UN International Year of Rapprochement of Cultures.
Given this proposed launch date, there will be sufficient time to prepare and promote a final proposal and to get political support from member states to present the corresponding project of resolution on the Decade to the General Assembly in its 63rd session (September 2008), in order to be adopted by the General Assembly in its 64th session (autumn 2009). During this preparatory phase the Coalition of supporting organizations will be constituted and an appropriate non-governmental arrangement will be designed and put in place to insure the effective mobilizing of individuals and communities of diverse religions and value-based organizations for their participation in the Decade.
Annex I
Participants at the Bossey Consultation
The following entities attended the Bossey Consultation – held at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, Geneva, Switzerland, on 8-11 January 2008 – to consider a proposal in support of a UN Decade for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation. This draft proposal is endorsed only by those representing interfaith and faith-based organizations:
Host Organizations
Chile, Italy, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Romania and Russian Federation.
United Nations agencies and departments
DESA – Department for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Secretariat; ILO – International Labor Office; OHCHR – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights;
UNDP – United Nations Development Fund, and UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Interfaith organizations
Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations; CONGO’s Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (Geneva) – CSVGC; The Council for the Parliament of World’s Religions – CPWR; Interfaith International; Interfaith Encounter Association – IEA; International Association for Religious Freedom – IARF; Minorities of Europe; The Temple of Understanding; United Religions Initiative – URI; World Conference on Religions for Peace – WCRP.
Faith based communities and organizations
Armenian Orthodox Church; Baha’i International Community; FOCOLARI Movement (Roman Catholic); Rissho Kosei-kai (Buddhist); Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation; Lutheran World Federation; Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies (Jordan); Saint Egidio Community (Roman Catholic); Sikh Dharma International; Spiritual Appeal Group of Geneva; Spiritual University Brama Kumaris; Union of Superiors General of Men (USG) and Woman (UISG) Religious of the Roman Catholic Church; World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC); World Council of Arya Samaj; The World Islamic League; World Vision International; Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF)
Annex II
The representatives from interfaith and faith-based organizations and communities present at the Bossey Consultation designated some of them as “Provisional Steering Committee” which will oversee the process aimed at having the proposed DECADE eventually adopted by the UN General Assembly. This committee is being chaired by Stein Villumstad (WCRP), based in New York, having Trevor Davies, Chair of the CONGO’s Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (CSVGC-Geneva), based in Geneva, as Deputy-Chairperson.
As soon as the Coalition will be formally established, their partner organizations will be requested to either ratify the Provisional Steering Committee (which would cease to be “provisional”) or designate a new one.
For more information on this initiative or for expressing your support, please contact the Coordinator, Dr. Gerardo Gonzalez, e-mail: decade@vtr.net
[1] This third draft of the proposal was developed and agreed upon by the representatives of interreligious and faith-based organizations who attended the Consultation hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Conference of NGOs in a Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO), and held at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, Geneva, Switzerland, on 8-11 January 2008. The list of entities represented in this Bossey Consultation is in Annex I.
Catholics and Muslims Pledge to Improve Links
The meeting came in response to a letter written by 138 Muslim leaders.
Both sides said they hoped that the seminar would open a new and much-improved chapter in Catholic-Muslim relations, as the two groups said they might establish a committee that could ease tensions in any future crisis between the two religions.
“Let us resolve to overcome past prejudices and to correct the often distorted images of the other, which even today can create difficulties in our relations,” Pope Benedict told the Muslim delegation. He called the gathering “a clear sign of our mutual esteem and our desire to listen respectfully to one another.”
Addressing the pope on behalf of the Muslim delegation, Seyyed Hossein Nasr of Iran, a professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University in Washington, said that throughout history, “various political forces” of both Christians and Muslims had carried out violence.
“Certainly we cannot claim that violence is the monopoly of only one religion,” he said.
The three-day forum brought together nearly 30 Catholic clerics and scholars, led by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; and as many Muslim clerics and scholars, led by Mustafa Ceric, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina based in Sarajevo.
The meeting “exceeded our expectations,” said Ingrid Mary Mattson, the director of the Islamic Society of North America and a professor of Islamic studies at the Hartford Seminary.
“The atmosphere was very good, very frank,” said Tariq Ramadan, a professor of Islamic Studies at Oxford University. .
The 15-point declaration the group called on Catholics and Muslims to renounce “oppression, aggressive violence and terrorism, especially that committed in the name of religion.”
And it said religious minorities should be “entitled to their own places of worship, and their founding figures and symbols they consider sacred should not be subjected to any form of mockery or ridicule.”
Participants in this week’s conference pledged to hold another dialogue in a Muslim country in 2010.
URGENT APPEAL FOR MINDANAO
31 October 2008
Dear Esteemed Religions for Peace Members and Friends:
Religious youth in Asia and the Pacific are advancing the Religions for Peace mission with great vigor and creativity.
The Religions for Peace Asia & Pacific Youth Network convened an Asian Youth Summit from 10–15 October 2008 in Davao City, Mindanao, in the Philippines. They intentionally chose this site due to the long-running conflict that has run along religious identity lines in that southern section of the Philippines. The ability of our youth members to cross the boundaries of divided communities is genuinely inspiring.
You will find attached a copy of their Statement and Appeal. It is a pleasure to recommend them to you.
Yours in partnership,
Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General
Statement on
“Youth As Peacemakers, Gathering In Hope, Pledging Common Action”
Mindanao, Philippines | 15 October 2008
Presentation of Mindanao Appeal to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines,
by Moderator of Religions for Peace Asia & Pacific Youth Network Lawrence Chong,
with Secretary General of Asian Conference of Religions for Peace Dr. Sunggon Kim
at the University of Santa Tomas on 17 October 2008.
The hopes of the people of Mindanao are our hopes, too. The indigenous child’s hope to complete her education and become a doctor. The Muslim woman’s hope to have her home back. The Christian youth’s hope for peaceful co-existence. We are from different countries, but there is a common hope we all share, the hope for a home and a future without fear. We, the religious youth of the Religions for Peace Asia & Pacific Youth Network—convened by Religions for Peace, the world’s largest coalition of religious communities dedicated to inter-religious cooperation for conflict transformation, peace building and sustainable development; the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP), the Religions for Peace regional body in Asia; and the Religions for Peace Philippines Youth Network—believe that such a hope can also be for Mindanao; it is not just a wish but a right.
We engaged with those at stake—including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Philippine government, and Filipino youth—in this first-ever international youth gathering since the escalation of violence in August 2008. We, ninety religious youth leaders from sixteen countries in Asia representing the major faith traditions and various international organizations. stand in solidarity with the religious youth leaders of the Philippines who are working for justice and peace in Mindanao.
Both parties must cease hostilities and armed conflict, and return to the negotiation table. The conditions of the people of Mindanao who are living in poverty and the more than half million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) must be faced. At the very heart of this conflict are the people—the women, children, and the elderly—who are displaced because of this conflict.
Religious youth leaders representing various stakeholders in the conflict gathered to listen to each other in order to walk the path to peace. Visiting various communities in Mindanao, we engaged with Muslims, the Indigenous, Christians, and people of other faiths to learn of the plight of the people who have been suffering for decades and whose suffering has only been aggravated by the recent conflict in Mindanao.
Asia is the cradle of the world’s religious traditions. Peace has failed because we have not lived up to our deepest religious values. Without seeing each other as brothers and sisters, we cannot attain life-giving peace. The root of the conflict in Mindanao is not unique to the Philippines and can be found in all parts of the world. Asia is moving down a dangerous path toward violent confrontation as there is a dangerous level of cynicism towards dialogue. The millennium hopes of a century without armed conflict seem dimmer by the day, and time is running out. From all corners of Asia, cries for peace ring. Whether it is in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or Thailand, the issues remains eerily similar: social inequality, injustice, and threats to the environment.
Coming together, we hear many frustrations expressed by the youth leaders: that even though we live in a world filled with the latest communication technologies, we are unable to hear balanced views. We urge the national and international media to give balanced and objective insights to any conflict situations. We also urge the media to see us as allies in a common path to peace and fill the region with news of hope in the midst of conflict.
Having heard diverse cases from different countries in Asia, the Religions for Peace Asia & Pacific Youth Network will focus on one issue per sub-region in order to maximize network advocacy. The sub-regions are divided into Northeast Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
We as a network will continue to support the building of inter-religious youth networks in Northeast Asia for nurturing mutual trust and developing strong and harmonious partnerships in the region.
In South Asia, a youth summit will be conducted in November, and we are united with them in their quest for peace in the region.
As a youth network, we ask that the Asian Coordinating Team (ACT) work immediately to implement the following proposed actions. We specifically ask ACT to ensure that the Mindanao issue remain in the hearts and minds of our national networks and coordinate relevant action plans.
With regard to Mindanao, we as a network will take robust and immediate actions for peace to get all sides to resume negotiations. We will not stop until this is achieved. We are assured that with the leadership of the Religions for Peace Philippine Youth Network and the commitment of the Mindanao youth, peace will be realized.
Our work has just begun and we urge Asian governments, civil societies and religious youth leaders to join us on the path to peace.
Religions for Peace is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace since 1970. Headquartered in New York and accredited to the United Nations, Religions for Peace works through affiliated inter-religious councils in 70 countries in six continents.
URGENT APPEAL FOR MINDANAO
Mindanao, Philippines | 15 October 2008
FOR PEACE IN MINDANAO, NOW!
Hearing their urgent cries and for the sake of the women, youth, and children of Mindanao, we the religious youth leaders of the Religions for Peace Asia & Pacific Youth Network from sixteen countries in Asia— representing Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Shinto, Sikh, Zoroastrian, and the Indigenous—strongly appeal for pursuit of the Mindanao peace process, with honor and sincerity, and call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Mindanao. We call for all stakeholders to return to the negotiation table and the path of peace. The many years of painstaking efforts and progress made between the Government and various stakeholders should not be overlooked or abandoned.
Reflecting on the values of our faith traditions, we implore that all parties seek reconciliation and practice forgiveness. We believe that the resumption of the peace negotiations among all stakeholders is imperative to truly attain a just and lasting peace in the country.
We, bearing witness to the extreme conditions of the people of Mindanao, urge the government of the Philippines to intensify its efforts to care for the more than half million Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) as a humanitarian crisis looms. We urge the United Nations to review the situation and take relevant action as the number of IDPs continues to grow.
We call for the security forces to respect international norms pertaining to existing evacuation centers and to allow free access to aid for the people of Mindanao.
The misuse of religion to label the conflict and undermine—as well as exacerbate—the plight of the people of Mindanao must end. Mindanao is a place rich with natural resources and filled with talented young people, yet the majority of the population is extremely poor. We urge all stakeholders to stop militarization and focus on sustainable peace and development programs as a means toward a just and peaceful society.
We, seeing the people in Mindanao suffering as a result of the conflict and as a result of decades of neglect, call for JUSTICE for the marginalized of Mindanao who are lacking good education, jobs for their youth, and are living in poverty.
WITHOUT JUSTICE THERE CAN BE NO PEACE!
We appeal to young Filipinos to be aware of what is going on in their homeland and not let peace slip away.
We invite the international community to visit Mindanao to change their perceptions of the situation and understand the history of the political, economic, and social marginalization that are the real roots of the conflict. We urge the regional and global community to understand the reality, hear the people, and bear witness to the everyday struggle to survive.
We have SEEN the children desperate for knowledge lacking the resources for education.
We have HEARD the plight of the displaced, their elderly, women and children.
We are asking you to join us in ACTION to seek immediate attention for those affected.
News from RELIGIONS for PEACE :
European Religious Leaders of Different Faiths Call for Ban of Cluster Munitions
(Sarajevo, 30 October 2008) “To fail to sign the treaty banning cluster munitions is to fail humanity”, stated the Moderator of the European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (ECRL), Bishop Gunnar Stålsett, when concluding the European Faith Leaders Conference on Cluster Munitions. Leaders of Europe’s major religions, representing all parts of the continent, committed to working together to ban cluster munitions which is a massive humanitarian problem most often affecting civilians.
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