Tuesday, October 17, 2006 at 12:12am
The U.N.'s role in interfaith dialogue
Column: All Paths
On Jan. 1, 2007, Ban Ki-moon will become the new secretary-general of the United Nations. Many U.N. insiders believe that this is a good thing. I can hope it is, because over the past 10 years under Kofi Annan, the United Nations has become a more open, accessible, and proactive peacekeeping organization. Any retrenchment from this new and expanded role would not be good.
As a more open and accessible organization under Annan and his Global Compact, the private sector, labor, civil society organizations, and other non-state actors are involved in just about every aspect of U.N. life. This is unprecedented.
As a result of Annan's tenure, U.N.-affiliated religious non-government organizations (NGOs) now feel that they are making a more substantive contribution at the United Nations. Through their efforts and Annan's leadership there have been two groundbreaking conferences held at the United Nations. These conferences brought together government representatives, members of the United Nations system, and the religious NGOs. The first U.N. Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace was held in 2005 and the most recent last month.
Think about how significant it is that government leaders, U.N. leaders and the religious NGOs have now met twice at the United Nations to discuss interfaith approaches to resolving global conflict and fostering peace. I believe that this inclusive interfaith approach is the most effective way to have a productive and sustained dialogue on achieving a global civil society.
You see, there is war and strife in just about every region of the world. Most, if not all, of these conflicts are rooted in religious intolerance. This is why it is important for the faith community, government leaders and the U.N. to come together under an interfaith approach. I believe interfaith cooperation is the fundamental building block for a common dialogue that can lead to peace and community building. Interfaith dialogue shifts the focus from differences to shared common values.
In order for a global interfaith dialogue to be productive and meaningful, it must include all sectors of the community. This is what Annan has done with the help of the religious NGOs. It would not have happened, if he had not recognized the need for the United Nations to shift to a more open and accessible institution.
Finally, in 2001, when the United Nations was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Committee said, "Kofi Annan had been pre-eminent in bringing new life to the organization." During that conferring ceremony the Nobel Committee also said, "The only negotiable road to global peace and cooperation goes by way of the United Nations." These words are a powerful and ringing endorsement of Annan's reforms.
When Mr. Ban assumes the leadership of the United Nations, he will find a U.N. organization that more people than ever believe can help shape and mold a more peaceful and civil future for this planet of ours. The new secretary-general has vowed to continue to build upon Annan's reforms. I hope he does. We will be watching.
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Jay Speights is an interfaith minister and the main U.N. representative for the New Seminary in New York. He has a master's in public policy. His email address is {email jayspeights@newseminary.org}jayspeights@newseminary.org.{/email} You can learn more about his work at the United Nations by going to ngo.newseminary.org. © Copyright by Jay Speights 2006
As a more open and accessible organization under Annan and his Global Compact, the private sector, labor, civil society organizations, and other non-state actors are involved in just about every aspect of U.N. life. This is unprecedented.
As a result of Annan's tenure, U.N.-affiliated religious non-government organizations (NGOs) now feel that they are making a more substantive contribution at the United Nations. Through their efforts and Annan's leadership there have been two groundbreaking conferences held at the United Nations. These conferences brought together government representatives, members of the United Nations system, and the religious NGOs. The first U.N. Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace was held in 2005 and the most recent last month.
Think about how significant it is that government leaders, U.N. leaders and the religious NGOs have now met twice at the United Nations to discuss interfaith approaches to resolving global conflict and fostering peace. I believe that this inclusive interfaith approach is the most effective way to have a productive and sustained dialogue on achieving a global civil society.
You see, there is war and strife in just about every region of the world. Most, if not all, of these conflicts are rooted in religious intolerance. This is why it is important for the faith community, government leaders and the U.N. to come together under an interfaith approach. I believe interfaith cooperation is the fundamental building block for a common dialogue that can lead to peace and community building. Interfaith dialogue shifts the focus from differences to shared common values.
In order for a global interfaith dialogue to be productive and meaningful, it must include all sectors of the community. This is what Annan has done with the help of the religious NGOs. It would not have happened, if he had not recognized the need for the United Nations to shift to a more open and accessible institution.
Finally, in 2001, when the United Nations was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Committee said, "Kofi Annan had been pre-eminent in bringing new life to the organization." During that conferring ceremony the Nobel Committee also said, "The only negotiable road to global peace and cooperation goes by way of the United Nations." These words are a powerful and ringing endorsement of Annan's reforms.
When Mr. Ban assumes the leadership of the United Nations, he will find a U.N. organization that more people than ever believe can help shape and mold a more peaceful and civil future for this planet of ours. The new secretary-general has vowed to continue to build upon Annan's reforms. I hope he does. We will be watching.
— — —
Jay Speights is an interfaith minister and the main U.N. representative for the New Seminary in New York. He has a master's in public policy. His email address is {email jayspeights@newseminary.org}jayspeights@newseminary.org.{/email} You can learn more about his work at the United Nations by going to ngo.newseminary.org. © Copyright by Jay Speights 2006