MISSION & IMPACT Religions for Peace—the ABOUT US world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition—advances common action among the world’s page2 page14 page16 religious communities for peace. Religions for Peace works MILESTONES ASSEMBLIES TESTIMONIALS to transform violent conflict, Overview of Religions for Peace’s Overview of Religions for Global leaders endorse advance human development, success for nearly 50 years Peace’s ten World Assemblies Religions for Peace promote just and harmonious societies, and protect the earth. page8 page4 VATICAN GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP Advancing a Moral Alliance H.E. Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah [President, Among the World’s Religions Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim for an “Integral Ecology” Societies; Co-Moderator, Religions for Peace] leads collaborative global impact through the organizations’ deep partnership GLOBAL IMPACT 90+countries page12 INTERFAITH page6 RAINFOREST MYANMAR INITIATIVE Religions for Peace Religions for Peace page10 as the most high- regions is a key implementing ETHICS IN profile multi-religious 6 partner of IRI, an specialist promoting alliance harnessing moral ACTION peace in Myanmar leadership to protect the Religions for Peace earth’s resources is catalyzing action World to advance the SDGs 1Council through Ethics in Action 2
2012 MILESTONES Religions for Peace launched the “Ten Promises to Our Children,” a global initiative to improve child survival. This initiative empowers 1991-2000 people of faith to promote life-saving 2016-present Civil war breaks out in Sierra Leone practices, such as breastfeeding and Launch of the Interfaith Rainforest and Muslim and Christian leaders 2011-2012 immunizations, in the communities 2014-2016 Initiative, of which RfP is the form the RfP Inter-religious Council RfP Haiti mediated the where they live and work. RfP’s West African IRCs underwent implementing partner. RfP Latin of Sierra Leone (IRCSL). They “standoff” between the tremendous efforts to combat the deadly America and the Caribbean has mediate between the government executive and legislature on Ebola Virus. RfP led quick and effective been instrumental in implementing and rebels. The Council negotiated the formation of a permanent targeted awareness and sensitization the project in Colombia and Peru 2003-2012 the release of 50 child hostages in electoral council that plunged 2013 activities to curb the spread of Ebola and has also supported a meeting 1970 1997, and played a key role in the Religions for Peace Haiti into months of political Religions for Peace is and save lives. RfP-IRCL partnered with of key stakeholders in Brazil. The first “World Assembly” Lomé peace talks. In the following catalyzed interfaith efforts to crisis. It brought the parties advancing Restoring Dignity, UNICEF to deliver essential services. RfP- The African Council of Religious took place in October years, IRCSL conducted a human combat HIV/AIDS and scale together and facilitated the a global initiative dedicated IRCL Women of Faith Network responded Leaders (ACRL-RfP) and the Inter- 1970 in Kyōto and led to rights and peace education project up faith-based responses. signing of the memorandum to engaging faith-based by providing care, material support, religious Council of Indonesia (IRC the formal establishment to promote dialogue and a Truth RfP worked to strengthen of understanding on organizations, religious leaders, educational access and alternative Indonesia-RfP) coordinated similar of Religions for Peace and Reconciliation Commission. faith-based support to 24 December 2012. Both communities and individuals of learning opportunities for those who could convenings for key stakeholders and as an independent IRCSL transformed to respond to people living with HIV/AIDS, parties requested that RfP faith for common action to end not attend school during the outbreak. potential local partners in both the organization. RfP’s 10th the Ebola epidemic in 2014 and particularly in reducing the Haiti lead further peace talks. violence against women. RfP After the crisis, RfP’s IRCs worked to Democratic Republic of the Congo World Assembly occurs remains active today mitigating stigma that surrounds the released its “Restoring Dignity” mainstream orphans into society and assist and Indonesia, respectively. Learn from 20-23 August 2019. electoral violence. disease. Toolkit this year. in educating for childhood immunizations. more on page 12.
1970 1991 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016
1990 2003 2014 2016
1996 2009 2018
2014 1990-1997 1996-1997 2009-2010 In 2014, RfP launched the “Faith for Earth” campaign, The Religions for Peace Inter-religious Following the Dayton Agreement, The Arms Down! Campaign for Shared led by Archbishop Desmond Council of Liberia (RfP-IRCL) was the Religions for Peace Inter-religious Security was launched by the Religions Tutu, in 195 countries and 2016-2018 2018 founded in 1990 by religious leaders of Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina for Peace Global Youth Network in late culminated in a petition, RfP religious leaders have convened for eleven The Forum and RfP co-host Liberia drawn from the Christian and (IRC-BiH) facilitated communications 2009. Youth leaders from the world’s signed by 1.8 million people. meetings entitled “Ethics in Action” between senior religious leaders from Muslim communities. Their effort set across religious communities, liaised great religious traditions convened 2016 and 2018, to develop a multi-religious the MENA and EU regions to up a basis for mediation and dialogue between religious communities and on 4 October to deliver the 20 million moral consensus and to deploy that consensus collaborate to find innovative which eventually culminated in the NGOs working in the post-conflict signatures that they had collected on as the basis for concrete ethical action. Learn responses to mass migration. ECOWAS Peace Plan for Liberia and environment, with founding member the Arms Down! petition to the United more on page 10. Learn more on page 4. the 1997 general elections. President Grand Mufti Mustafa Cerić. IRC-BiH Nations Secretary-General’s High Charles Taylor announced his stepping remains active today in the protection Representative for Disarmament. down through the Council. of Holy Sites. 4
PARTNERING TO CONFRONT THE GLOBAL MIGRATION CHALLENGE
Senior-most religious leaders from the Religions for Peace’s European Council of Religious Leaders (RfP-ECRL) and the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim societies convened in Abu Dhabi, UAE from 8–9 December 2018 to address the influx of MENA migrants to Europe. This meeting collected the wisdom, knowledge and expertise of some of the most senior religious leaders in Europe and MENA to offer guidance on advocacy and action addressing RfP Partnership with the root causes and effects of migration. Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies The Forum and RfP have closely worked together since 2013, not least in the historic Marrakesh Declaration and Alliance of Virtues initiatives of the Forum and multiple initiatives from the RfP side. Here, H.E. Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah addresses RfP leadership GLOBAL ACTION th H.E. Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah [President, Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim and esteemed guests at the 2013 RfP 9 World Assembly in Vienna. Societies, Co-Moderator, RfP] is greeted by Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh, OBE KSG [Chairman, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha; Co-President of RfP] RELIGIONS WORKING ALLIANCE OF VIRTUES: TOGETHER TO CONFRONT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GLOBAL PEACE EXTREMISM AND VIOLENCE Several key Religions for Peace leaders were graciously The Forum for Promoting Peace in hosted by the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Muslim Societies (the Forum) and Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh presents Forum partners Societies for the Alliance of Virtue in 2018. Religions RfP co-hosted an event to confront with the Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation for Peace collaborates at every level, from senior-most extremism in December 2014. RfP religious leaders to grassroots youth of faith, with has been formally advancing a notion the world’s most representative coalition of religions of shared security, and later, Shared in order to advance the goals set at this meeting by Well-Being since the 8th World Assembly H.E. Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah. in 2006. The Forum has become a key partner in this goal. Religions for Peace compliments the above goals of our partners in our own stated goal of “Advancing Shared ADVANCING THE PROTECTION Well-Being as a Multi-Religious Vision of Positive OF MINORITIES IN MUSLIM Peace.” This notion understands that human beings MAJORITY STATES The Forum and RfP co-host an event in Abu Dhabi in December 2014 entitled are relational; a link exists between unfolding personal “Religions Working Together to Confront Extremism and Violence.” human dignity & building up the “common good” RfP has been eagerly supportive of the through care for others. Marrakesh Declaration, an initiative led by H.E. Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah [President, Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, Co-Moderator, In his address, Dr. Vendley RfP]. Following the adoption of the [Secretary General, Religions Declaration, more than sixty world for Peace] stated: renowned religious leaders from the “[An Alliance of Virtue] can start MENA region participated in RfP’s with religions that bear similarities “Partnering with Religious Leaders of the with one another… but ultimately must extend to all religious believers Middle East in Advancing the Protection 60 world renowned religious leaders from the MENA region participated in the and people of good will. The bold High-level International Consultation: “Partnering with Religious Leaders of the Middle East of Minorities in Muslim Majority States.” commitment to the common good in Advancing the Protection of Minorities in Muslim Majority States” held in Japan Leaders reaffirmed the Marrakesh needs to be properly expressed, Declaration1 and advanced cooperation something that H.E. Shaykh 1 The Marrakesh Declaration, developed under the aegis of the Forum, provides a legal framework and call to action in support Abdallah Bin Bayyah has been to promote inclusive citizenship. of the rights of religious minorities in predominately Muslim lands. The declaration was signed by leading religious figures in H.E. Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah and Dr. Vendley address the advancing with the enthusiastic Marrakesh, Morocco in 2016. global influx of migration with MENA and European religious leaders support of Religions for Peace.” 6
eligions for Peace has had a presence in Myanmar for years, but more recently set the goal of building the MYANMAR Rcapacity of Religions for Peace-Myanmar (RfP-M) to be the preeminent organization in Myanmar for interfaith dialogue, collaboration and action. As of 2019, RfP has developed a multilevel, multi-stakeholder approach to supporting efforts to end violent conflict, including decades-long conflicts between the military and armed ethnic (Above and on the left, below) RfP International and RfP-Myanmar leadership meet H.E. State Counsellor groups, and the deadly clashes between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to present the “Letter to the Peoples of Myanmar” Rakhine Buddhists and Muslims. H.E. State Counsellor Daw Aung At the diplomatic level, a high-level San Suu Kyi (center) meets with international delegation was invited to visit Bishop Gunnar J. Stålsett [Honorary President, RfP International; Bishop the country and deliver the 'Letter to the Emeritus of Oslo] (left) and Rev. Kyoichi Peoples of Myanmar' carrying a call for Sugino [Deputy Secretary General, the establishment of the Religions for Peace RfP International] during a high-level multi-religious delegation to Myanmar. Advisory Forum on National Reconciliation and Peace in Myanmar.
The Advisory Forum brought together senior religious leaders, officials from the United Nations, the Myanmar government and the military, parliament and ethnic organizations. To respond to the critical lack of “open space” for dialogue and cooperation among all stakeholders, this program builds a unique multi-religious and multi-stakeholder mechanism for dialogue and action. The government has publicly acknowledged the critical role religious leaders play in transforming people and conflict and pledged Religions for Peace-Myanmar to support future Religions for Peace work on dialogue and multi-religious cooperation. has been recognized as RfP-Myanmar, RfP International, senior religious leaders and esteemed guests participate in the At the grassroots level, several projects and second Advisory Forum on Peace and National Reconciliation in Myanmar in May 2019. “the most high-profile and visible programs have built the capacity of RfP-M members and supporting dialogue and international specialist interfaith multi-religious activities have deepened H.E. State Counsellor “RfP-M is teaching our “We gain nothing from understanding and brought communities Daw Aung San Suu Kyi followers and the entire fighting each other, delivered her opening population about the killing our brothers and back together after violent conflict. Evaluation actor” working for peace address emphasizing peaceful aspects of our sisters. Those who grew evidence has shown that the projects have the significance of the religions. We are visiting up in conflict areas fear 1 had a profound and positive impact on many RfP Advisory Forum and Rohingya, listening they will never taste in the context. participants, especially women, and have the role of religion in to their concerns and peace. All of us here in advancing positive Peace: communicating them to the RfP Advisory Forum helped build peace and reconciliation in the authorities. Buddhism in are walking the path project areas. “RfP is bringing about my eyes, just like Islam, of peace. Myanmar is important progress for is a peaceful religion a blessed nation with peace. The second with no room for hate more opportunities than Forum is important to or discrimination.” it has challenges.” advance human dignity, democratization and Al Haj U Aye Lwin H.E. Cardinal 1 Nyi Nyi Kyaw, “Trends in Southeast Asia: Interreligious Conflict to find solutions to Cardinal Charles Bo [Patron, RfP Myanmar, Archbishop of Yangon] [Founding Member, RfP-M; Charles Bo [Patron, and the Politics of Interfaith Dialogue in Myanmar,” Yusof Ishak national challenges.” Chief Convener, Islamic RfP Myanmar; consults with H.E. State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during RfP's Institute, ISEAS Publishing, Singapore, 2019, page 23, Web, Second Advisory Forum on National Reconciliation and Peace in Myanmar. https://www.iseas.edu.sg/images/pdf/TRS10_19.pdf. Center of Myanmar] Archbishop of Yangon] 8
n response to a growing climate of distrust and fear, Religions for Peace convened a high-level meeting to review Iand reflect on the power and efficiency of VAT ICA N the RfP model to harness the world’s largest preexisting infrastructure and volunteer base – religious communities – as delivery MEETING platforms for actions that build the common good. The outcomes of the meeting were an integral part of the preparations for the RfP World Assembly in 2019. H.E. The Late Cardinal Jean-Louis Pierre Tauran [President Emeritus H.H. Pope Francis is greeted by of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; Camerlengo Emeritus of Dr. William F. Vendley [Secretary General, RfP] Eighty highly diverse senior religious leaders the Holy Roman Church], H.H. Pope Francis, H.E. Raymundo Cardinal Damasceno Assis [Archbishop Emeritus of Aparecida, Sao Paulo, Archdiocese from all continents, eminent Religions for of Aparecida, Sao Paulo; Moderator, Latin America and Caribbean Council of Peace Trustees, government representatives, Religious Leaders-RfP] and H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan [Co-Moderator, foundations and global experts committed RfP; Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria] with key RfP leaders and esteemed guests to collaborating for the common good attended the meeting, which concluded with a meeting with His Holiness, Pope Francis.
OBJECTIVES
Advance multi-religious alliance for an “Integral Ecology” for the common good
Share best practices, challenges and opportunities for multi-religious cooperation to build Peace
Identify practical means to implement recommended priority multi-religious actions Left to right: H.E. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje [Grand Mufti, Left to right: Rev. Kosho Niwano [President-Designate, Rissho Uganda Muslim Supreme Council; Co-Moderator, African Council of Religious Kosei-Kai; Co-Moderator of RfP], Dr. William F. Vendley [Secretary Leaders-RfP], Rev. Kosho Niwano [President-Designate, Rissho Kosei-Kai; General, RfP], H.E. The Late Cardinal Jean-Louis Pierre Tauran Co-Moderator of Religions for Peace], Rabbi Sir David Rosen [Co-President, [President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; Religions for Peace; International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Camerlengo Emeritus of the Holy Roman Church], H.E. John Committee], Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh, OBE KSG [Chairman, Guru Cardinal Onaiyekan [Co-Moderator, RfP; Archbishop of Abuja, Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha; Co-President of RfP] and H.E. Dr. Mohamed Nigeria] and Dr. Vinu Aram [Director, Shanti Ashram; Co-Moderator, El Sammak [Secretary General of the Islamic-Christian Dialogue Committee; RfP] shared knowledge with RfP leadership and esteemed guests. Co-President, RfP] await the arrival of His Holiness, Pope Francis.
Advancing a Moral Alliance among the World’s Religions for an “Integral Ecology” ON THE LEFT:
Amb. Cheikhna Bin Bayyah presents the Marrakesh Declaration on behalf of his father, H.E. Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah [President, Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies; Co-Moderator, RfP]
H.H. Pope Francis addresses Religions for Peace key leadership and esteemed partners 10
thics in Action is an initiative predicated on the notion that the grave and urgent challenges facing Ethe world are moral challenges requiring ETHICS moral solutions. Launched in partnership with the Chancellor of Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network IN ACTION and the University of Notre Dame, RfP religious leaders convened for eleven meetings between 2016 and 2018 to develop Rabbi Sir David Rosen [Co-President, RfP; International Director of Interreligious H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan [Co-Moderator, RfP; Affairs, American Jewish Committee], Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson [Co-Founder Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria] and a multi-religious moral consensus and and President, Zaytuna University] and H.E. Dr. Mohamed El Sammak [Secretary Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson [Co-Founder to deploy that consensus as the basis for General of the Islamic-Christian Dialogue Committee; Co-President; RfP] and President, Zaytuna University] concrete ethical action. Topics included the rights of indigenous peoples, environmental justice and the refugee crisis.
During these meetings, a significant number of Religions for Peace Co-Presidents and strategic partners convened every three months to discern shared ethical concerns related to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In that process, they were able to discern substantial and still emergent areas of consensus on a shared notion of the common good. The cumulation of this multi-religious notion of Shared Well-Being has resulted in Dr. William F. Vendley’s [Secretary General, RfP] Commission Paper for the Religions Left to Right: H.E. Dr. Mohamed El Sammak [Secretary General of the Islamic- Left to Right: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar [Founder, Art of Living for Peace 10th World Assembly, entitled: Christian Dialogue Committee; Co-President; RfP], Dr. Anantanand Rambachan Foundation], Dr. William F. Vendley [Secretary General, RfP], [Professor of Religion, St. Olaf College; RfP Ethics in Action Member], Rev. Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson [Co-Founder and President, “Advancing Shared Well-Being as a Multi- Kosho Niwano [President-Designate, Rissho Kosei-Kai; Co-Moderator of RfP]. Zaytuna University] and Dr. Anantanand Rambachan [Professor Religious Vision of Positive Peace.” Back Row, Left to Right: Rev. Nobuhiro Masahiro Nemoto [Secretary General, of Religion, St. Olaf College; RfP Ethics in Action Member] Asian Conference of RfP] and Rev. Kyoichi Sugino [Deputy Secretary General, RfP].
RfP is leading the way in interreligious action for the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals through the Ethics in Action initiative
H.E. Dr. Mohamed El Sammak [Secretary General of the Islamic-Christian Left to Right: Msgr. Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo [Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences Dialogue Committee; Co-President; RfP], in the Vatican], H.E. Metropolitan Emmanuel [Co-President, RfP], Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson [Co-Founder and President, Zaytuna University], Rabbi Sir David Rosen [Co-President, RfP; International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee], Rev. Kosho Niwano [President- Designate, Rissho Kosei-Kai; Co-Moderator of RfP] and Dr. Anantanand Rambachan [Professor of Religion, St. Olaf College; RfP Ethics in Action Member] 12
eligions for Peace is one of the core partners of the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative (IRI), an INTERFAITH Rinternational, multi-faith alliance that aims to bring moral urgency and spiritual resources to global efforts to end tropical RAINFOREST deforestation. It is a platform for faith- based leaders and communities to work hand-in-hand with indigenous peoples, governments, civil society and businesses INITIATIVE to protect rainforests and safeguard those that serve as their guardians.
Religions for Peace Latin America and the Caribbean has been instrumental in implementing the project in Colombia and Peru and has also supported a Religions for Peace meeting of key stakeholders in Brazil. ACRL-RfP and the Interreligious Council is the primary implementer of Indonesia (IRC Indonesia-RfP) coordinated similar convenings for key of the Interfaith Rainforest stakeholders and potential local partners in both the Democratic Republic of the Initiative, capturing the Congo and Indonesia, respectively. moral authority of religions to protect the world’s ABOVE: Bishop Gunnar Stålsett [Honorary President, Religions rainforests for Peace; Advisor Interfaith Rainforest Initiative, Bishop Emeritus, Church of Norway] attended the Vatican Conference entitled “International Conference on Religions and Sustainable “We are at a turning point. This is a dramatic Development Goals” in order moment in history and we all have to realize to introduce the Interfaith that climate change and environmental Rainforest Initiative to H.H. Pope protection cannot wait any longer. Different Francis and other senior religions are getting involved because this task religious leaders. He noted: is just as important as the principles of our faith and our daily religious activities. I believe, “As faith-based organizations in fact, that protection of the environment – and institutions, we assert God's creation – is itself a religious activity that working towards the and thus an obligation for all of us.” fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals is also a spiritual exercise and a moral imperative. It is a widely shared Laura Vargas affirmation of faith that we - all [Executive Secretary persons – are created equal of Religions for in God’s image, and all share ABOVE: President of Peru, Martín Vizcarra, joins Elías Peace Peru; Country responsibility for God’s creation.” Szczytnicki [Secretary General, Religions for Peace Latin America Coordinator, and the Caribbean (RfP-LAC)] during the regional consultation Interfaith Rainforest in preparation for the 10th World Assembly. RfP-LAC has been Initiative in Peru] instrumental in implementing IRI in Peru and Colombia.
ON THE LEFT: IRI is an alliance where religious leaders can walk hand-in-hand with indigenous leaders to protect natural and spiritual gifts and resources. 14
950 people from
WORLD ASSEMBLIES 800 Every 5–7 years, Religions for Peace convenes a World Assembly of senior-most religious leaders for the 800 people from 125COUNTRIES purpose of forging a deep moral consensus on contemporary challenges, electing a new World Council and people from advancing multi-religious action across and beyond the Religions for Peace network. The Religions for Peace World Assemblies are global in scale, multi-stakeholder in composition and action-oriented. The Assemblies convene senior religious leaders from around the world who are strategically positioned to advance multi- 106COUNTRIES religious action for the common good. They also include representatives of governments, intergovernmental 100COUNTRIES organizations, charitable foundations and other civil society sectors and provide concrete opportunities to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships for the common good. 1200 people from 850 600 650 people from people from people from 400 people from 350 COUNTRIES70 people from
COUNTRIES63 300 COUNTRIES60 COUNTRIES61 people from
COUNTRIES53 48COUNTRIES
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1994 Riva del 1970 1974 1979 1984 1989 Garda 1999 2006 2013 2019 Kyoto Leuven Princeton Nairobi Melbourne The Vatican Amman Kyoto Vienna Lindau Japan Belgium USA Kenya Australia and Italy Jordan Japan Austria Germany
Advancing World Religions, Religion in Religions for Building Peace Healing the World: Action for Confronting Welcoming the Caring for our Peace through World Peace the Struggle Human Dignity Through Trust Religions for Peace Common Living Violence and Other – Advancing Common Future
Disarmament, CONTEXT for World and World Peace CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT Advancing Human Dignity, – Advancing Development and The Cold War – the Community CONTEXT Vast accelerated military Cold War ending; civil wars Cold War has ended; Shared Security Citizenship and Shared Well-Being threat of nuclear spending related to the in many parts of the world, a short period of unipolar Human Rights CONTEXT Cold War continues CONTEXT Shared Well-Being CONTEXT annihilation dominates and former colonies Cold War (Star Wars) including former Yugoslavia American hegemony; CONTEXT The Cold War; the 9/11; invasion of CONTEXT Violent conflict and the global order struggle for inclusive peace dividends anticipated; Escalating Cold War USSR’s invasion SELECTED OUTCOMES SELECTED OUTCOMES HIV/AIDS pandemic Afghanistan and Iraq; Violent extremism and extremism, rising of Afghanistan; the governance growing threats of inequality, threats to rivalry and the worsening SELECTED OUTCOMES Built confidence Established Inter-religious rising social hostility Iranian revolution terrorism; North Korea the earth, crisis of war in Vietnam Started Vietnamese through intense Council (IRC) of Bosnia SELECTED OUTCOMES SELECTED OUTCOMES conducts first nuclear test confidence in institutions Boat People’s Project liaison among Soviet, and Herzegovina-RfP for Advanced conflict SELECTED OUTCOMES SELECTED OUTCOMES Orchestrated SELECTED OUTCOMES and continued work European and US reconciliation resolution in 15 states Organized programs to Religions for Peace SELECTED OUTCOMES SELECTED GOALS Called for an immediate for Disarmament Welcomed Chinese religious leaders counter terrorism South Africa multi- Empowered IRC Sierra Convened Pan African ceasefire religious leaders to Track II negotiations Facilitate the Established first of six join Religions for religious efforts to World Summit of Leone-RfP in efforts to religious leaders on HIV/ are initiated among Partnered with UNHCR discernment of a Dispatched a multi- regional multi-religious Peace end apartheid Religious Leaders for mediate the civil war, AIDS in partnership with representatives of Iraq, and UNICEF on consensus of care religious fact-finding bodies Children in support of participate in the formal the UN Israel and Palestine, refugees on the most serious Organized Mobilized the mission to Vietnam the UN Convention on peace talks and advance North and South Korea, challenges facing delegations to Religions for Peace Advanced ‘Hope for Prepared for global the Rights of the Child reconciliation Sudan and Sri Lanka the human family Established a legal Washington, International Youth African Children’ program climate change as a foundation for NGO at the UN Moscow and Beijing Committee Introduced global IRC Liberia-RfP helps in 10 African states with Launched youth-led campaign for Paris principled multi- to advocate for action partnership with to mediate the civil war, major INGOs; 180 million global multi-religious Summit Pioneered the UN religious action nuclear disarmament UNICEF receives the resignation US dollars is raised for campaign “Arms Down!” NGO Committee on of Charles Taylor and services linked to Religions Ethics in Action in the Disarmament advances reconciliation for Peace multi-religious Vatican for SDGs religious structures 16 TESTIMONIALS
H.H. Pope Francis H.E. Shaykh Message to Religions for Peace leaders, The Most Rev. 18 October 2017 at the Vatican Abdullah Bin Bayyah Desmond Tutu President of the Forum for “There is a need for a common and cooperative President Emeritus of Religions H.E. Ban Ki-moon Promoting Peace and Co-Moderator effort on the part of the religions in promoting H.E. Kofi Annan for Peace South Africa Former Secretary General of Religions for Peace an integral ecology. The Bible helps us in this Former Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed of the United Nations regard by reminding us of the Creator, who ‘saw of the United Nations “The World Conference of Religions for “Religions for Peace was a key partner all that he had made, and it was very good’ Peace played a crucial role in my country’s Sayed Tantawi “Because of the great common ground leading up to and following the convening (Gen. 1:31). The religions have the wherewithal “The peace talks have started off well, struggle against apartheid – and it continues Grand Sheikh Emeritus of on which we stand, I commend the of several hundred eminent Muslim to further a moral covenant that can promote with the two parties expressing their firm its work today, bringing together in more Al-Azhar, speaking at the VII World continuing commitment of Religions for scholars and diplomats who produced respect for the dignity of the human person commitment to the peace process and than 90 countries diverse religious leaders Assembly of Religions for Peace Peace to strengthen recognition of our the Marrakesh Declaration. During the and care for creation. Thanks be to God, in determination to work together to resolve and believers who are committed to stopping common humanity, including through its proceedings in Marrakesh, 50 senior various parts of the world we have any number the conflict… Religions for Peace Sierra conflicts and building peace. Religions for “I do not subscribe to the idea of a clash support for global nuclear disarmament. non-Muslim religious leaders – facilitated of good examples of the power of interreligious Leone… played a particularly active role. Peace recognized that, historically, religions among civilizations. It is incumbent Its new publication, Resource Guide by Religions for Peace Secretary General cooperation to oppose violent conflicts, to President Kabbah has proposed that the have often been misused to intensify upon all sincere Muslims to cooperate on Nuclear Disarmament for Religious Dr. William Vendley – both observed advance sustainable development, and to protect Council whose role has been appreciated intolerance and violence in our world. But if with all other sincere religious believers Leaders and Communities, is a welcome the Islamic scholars in their deliberations the earth. Let us continue along this path! We by both sides, should become one of the religion is part of the problem, it must – and to contribute to efforts to achieve justice, step forward on the road to a nuclear and reflected in separate sessions on their must trust in the Almighty’s help and in the good moral guarantors of the peace agreement.” can – be part of the solution.” peace, and the welfare of humanity.” weapon-free world.” respective religion’s support for minorities.” will of believers and so many others.”
H.M. King Abdullah II Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Pres. Ahmed Ms. Ann Veneman “Strengthening the bond between religion Former Executive Director of the and peace is one of the foundations of Rabbi Sir David Rosen Tejan Kabbah United Nations Children’s Fund hope in a better future for humanity. Your Pres. Laura Chinchilla International Director of Former President of the H.H. Pope John Paul II organization, which is one of the most Interreligious Relations, Republic of Sierra Leone “Religions for Peace and UNICEF have long Speaking at the World Conference of prominent institutions of civil society Miranda American Jewish Committee partnered for children. Working together, we Religions for Peace’s 30th Anniversary undoubtedly has the will and ability to Former President of Costa Rica “[RfP] did an outstanding job in talking are committed to ensuring that all societies contribute to this noble cause because it is “Religions for Peace as an organization, and to the various factions, in reasoning with uphold the right and advance the well being “The Roman Catholic Church follows with active, not only on the local and regional “We need better education and awareness- this historic Assembly, serve as wonderful them. They even went to the bush in some of children. In particular, we recognize great interest the work of reconciliation levels but also on the international level. raising campaigns on issues related to inspiration and vehicle for such a practical states, sat with them on the floor and that religious communities can be unique carried out by the World Conference of Shared religious values are universal by nuclear weapons, nuclear disarmament, program of shared responsibility and care socialized with them, and in the process and irreplaceable agents in protecting and Religions for Peace in many parts of the their very nature. Since your organization and peace studies. In this regard, the action throughout our globe that will help to they were able to really educate them on the nurturing children. In addition to caring for world. Faced with the pressing problems of adopts the moral imperatives that these of civil society and faith-based communities achieve what the Jewish mystical tradition principles of good living – live and let live. today’s children, religious communities have today’s global society, all religions must feel values entail, the space of its action cannot is critically important. This is why this calls “repairing our world,” bringing about Their contribution to the peace process, in the capacity to shape the priorities of future called to fresh efforts to co-operate in order but be universal, and the time span cannot gathering to launch the Religions for Peace “the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.” my view, has been inestimable.” generations to uphold children’s rights.” to promote human life and its dignity.” but cover the entire future of humanity.” Resource Guide is so important.” © 2019 Religions for Peace PHOTO CREDITS Religions for Peace International Partnership with Forum on Migration: Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha 2017 Religions for Peace Myanmar (p. 6-7): Courtesy of Religions for Peace Myanmar Rome meetings (p. 8-9): Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha 2017 @religions4peace International Secretariat Ethics in Action (p. 10-11): Pontifical Academy of Sciences 777 United Nations Plaza IRI (p.12-13 + timeline): Courtesy of the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative in Peru; [Pope Francis]: Photographic Service @religions4peace New York, NY 10017 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO/Paolo Todaro Phone: +1 212 687 2163 Testimonials (p. 16-17): [Annan] UN Photo/Sergey Bermeniev; [Tutu] Kristen Opalinski/LUCSA; [Tantawi] dpa picture alliance archive / Alamy Stock Photo; [Ban] UN Photo/Mark Garten; [Bayyah] Flickr/Foreign and Commonwealth Fax: +1 212 983 0098 Religions for Peace International Office; [Pope Francis] UN Photo/Kim Haughton; [Rosen] UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras; [Kabbah] UN Photo/Joshua E-mail: [email protected] Kristal; [Veneman] UNICEF/HQ05-0653/Toutounji; [Pope John Paul II] UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe; [Abdullah II] UN www.rfp.org Photo/Eskinder Debebe; [Chinchilla] UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe; Religions for Peace International Back cover: Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha 2017