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M. Wibisono: Address to Participants in Interfaith Youth Forums
Written by Ambassador Makarim Wibisono, Presisdent, Geneva Interfaith Intercultural Alliance
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A Model of Governance Promoting Human Rights and Dignity
It is with great enthusiasm that I address this body of young religious representatives who takes so seriously their faith and at the same time, their responsibility to peace in the world.
During my many years of involvement in political and diplomatic affairs, I was constantly reminded that the economic, social, political problems that we are addressing are the results of much deeper and more internal needs. If those aspects are not understood or dealt with, the solutions that we propose will not reach their desired goal. Conflicts do not end when peace treaties are signed. It is only when each individuals and communities feels safe, appreciated and “at inner peace”.
One of our goals during this session is to demonstrate why religious voices should be provided a place within the United Nations. There are many who doubt that the political viewpoint and the religious perspective can come to a common consensus, or that even leaders of different religions can get beyond their differences. We must prove them wrong -and we have the tools to do so in our faith traditions.
The United Nations charter is based upon the idea of a family of nations, a human family. Religions too have this goal. Families are held together by bonds of trust and love. If we look very closely, we notice that the source of the very real and complicated issues that governments and the international organizations are dealing with can be traced back to our failure to provide that sense of “family.” I am convinced that the wisdom of religious/spiritual leaders could greatly benefit our UN agenda through identifying these root causes of our current crises, by the setting of priorities, and by rallying their congregations towards greater social responsibility.
There are human rights and their corresponding responsibilities. The best of religion will bring motivation to take responsibility. Religion and politics can be complementary, each meant to enhance the capacity of the other. We have to be able to demonstrate within our council how interfaith cooperation should work in the way that we respect and appreciate the diversity of each other. The Human Rights Council was critiqued because members of that council were sometimes the worst offenders of human rights. Let us break down barriers of historic enmity and misunderstanding through our cooperation for peace and prosperity.
You are the future, the hope. It is so important that you begin now to influence change around you, that you train build confidence in your capacities. You haven’t had all the experiences of your elders- often hard ones, to discourage you. Because you still look to the future with expectation, you have so much vitality. The combination of young leadership and religion is a very exciting one for a prosperous future.
This experiment could be a model of how religion and politics can complement each other. Religion has not until now found its place in the UN, although many of my fellow diplomats are guided by their religious convictions in their daily decision-making. There are precedents, like the work of the interactive committee to draft a “Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Responsibilities” in which religious experts were involved.
Something deep inside tells us that this could be a very significant addition to our global framework, but at the same time raises many questions. How could it function? What are the procedures for eligibility? Would it be possible for religious leaders to proceed in consensus- as our delegates have done in their preparation of their “Declaration”? This is perhaps a good way to encourage more thought on the issue. Untrue to the reputation, the United Nations can move quickly. We witnessed the institution building process of the Human Rights Council in one year when given a mandate to do so.
The students and youth are representing themselves as members of a particular faith, not “the” authority of that faith. They have been so hard working and serious during the preparatory process. Each one has prepared their statement to the Council as the delegate of their faith. I know we can learn much from them, and we hope, they from us.
Note: For presentations by participants in Interfaith Forums on Human Rights, click here.