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Proposal for an Interfaith Council at the UN
Peace can be fully accomplished only when the wisdom and efforts of religious leaders, who represent the internal concerns of the mind and conscience, work cooperatively and respectfully with government officials who have much practical wisdom and worldly experience. UPF advocates for the establishment of an interfaith council at the UN as well as on national and local levels to provide structures for this to take place. Scroll down for links to related UN resolutions.
Goals:
- Develop structures that will draw on the wisdom and capacities of religious traditions to address pressing issues.
- Build networks of interfaith peacebuilders who can serve in such structures.
Methods:
- Convene consultations about the proposal.
- Establish and promote local and national interfaith councils that can serve as models for a proposed interreligious council at the UN.
Read statements of support by: elder statesmen, senior diplomats, members of parliament and government officials, NGO leaders, religious thinkers, scholars
Backgrounders:
- Call for an interfaith council at the United Nations [English, Español, Italiano]
- PowerPoint overview of the proposal [English, Español, Français]
- UPF's Statement on Interreligious Dialogue
- References to religion and spirituality in UN documents
Progress in Interreligious Dialogue
2013-22 - International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures
2011 - First Week of February designated World Interfaith Harmony Week (UN General Assembly resolution 65/5)
2010 - UN International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures
2009 - UN International Year of Reconciliation
2008 - World Conference on Dialogue in Madrid proposed that the UN create an interreligious council.
2007 & 2008 - High-Level Dialogues on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace in the General Assembly (2007, 2008)
2008 - Focal Point created in ECOSOC for interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue and cooperation efforts
2006 - Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace began hosting joint meetings in New York of staff from UN missions, UN offices, and NGOs.
2005 - Committee of Religious NGOs formed at the UN
2004 - UN NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns began hosting a Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns every fall at the UN.
UN General Assembly Resolutions
Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace, GA 66/226, adopted 23 December 2011
Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding, and Cooperation for Peace, GA 65/138, adopted 16 December 2010
Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding, and Cooperation for Peace, GA 64/81, adopted 7 December 2009
Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding, and Cooperation for Peace, GA 60/10, adopted 3 November 2005
Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue, GA 59/23, adopted 11 November 2004
Promotion of Religious and Cultural Understanding, Harmony, and Cooperation, GA 58/128, adopted 19 December 2003
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