Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 1:01am
A step forward in interfaith dialogue
Column: All Paths
On March 23, the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace — a unique partnership of governments, U.N. agencies and religious non-government organizations (NGOs) accredited with the United Nations, celebrated its first anniversary. This is the first time that these different groups have come together under one umbrella to implement a global interfaith approach to peace. At the anniversary celebration Ambassador Hilario Davide, permanent representative of The Philippines and one of the founders, said, "The Tripartite Forum is special gift to the world: a child born out of a universal love for justice and passion for peace and from global interfaith, intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue, understanding and cooperation."
Is this group all that the ambassador says, or is it in reality just another feel-good diplomatic effort with no teeth that was hatched in the culture of the United Nations? We all know that the United Nations has not lived up to its potential. But it is the best shot that we have at global peace. Having said that, I believe that the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace is the best shot we have at a meaningful global interfaith dialogue. I say this, even though membership and participation in this group are voluntary and it is not a legal entity, because it brings all the major players together.
The list of members of the Tripartite Forum is impressive and growing: 50 U.N. member states, including the Holy See and the Islamic Republic of Iran; 15 U.N. member system organizations, and representatives of the 110 religious NGOs. In my opinion, to get these groups under one umbrella to discuss a global interfaith approach to peace is a major feat.
I believe that there cannot be enough interfaith dialogue. Most of the major conflict around this planet is rooted in religious intolerance in some way. So anything that keeps interfaith dialogue and cooperation on the front burner should be embraced. The high-level dialogue between the members of the Tripartite Forum has the potential to spill over and trickle down to other levels.
I believe it has. A lot has happened since the Tripartite Forum for Interfaith Cooperation and Peace was first conceptualized back in 2005 and its subsequent official founding in 2006. According to Ambassador Davide, "Interfaith dialogue has gained growing interest worldwide and is recognized by the Group of 77 (a U.N. caucus dedicated to helping developing nations leverage power at the United Nations) and China, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum. It is currently the flagship project of UNESCO for the biennium 2006-2007; it was noted in the 2005 World Summit Outcome; and served as one of the premises in the creation of the Human Rights Council. More importantly, it gave impetus to the unanimous adoption by the U.N. General Assembly at its 62nd session of the resolution entitled "Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation" introduced by Pakistan and the Philippines and co-sponsored by over 50 countries." In addition, last year, international interfaith conferences were held in New York; Moscow; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Larnaca, Cyprus; Bali, Indonesia; and Cebu City, Philippines.
It should be noted that had it not been for the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations and its tireless efforts over the years to make interfaith dialogue and cooperation a priority at the United Nations, I believe none of these things would have happened. The committee is continuing to keep interfaith dialogue at the top of the U.N. agenda under its president, Hiro Sakurai of Soka Gakkai International.
Finally, let us congratulate the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation and Peace on its one-year anniversary, and hope that this "child born out of a universal love for justice and passion for peace," as Ambassador Davide called it, grows and blossoms into an independent entity that can leave a lasting and meaning legacy by which all religious traditions honor the rights of others to express their religious and cultural traditions without fear.
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Rev. Jay Speights, with an MA in public policy, is an interfaith minister and main U.N. representative for the New Seminary in New York. You can learn more about his work at the United Nations at the New Seminary website. His email address is {email jayspeights@newseminary.org}jayspeights@newseminary.org{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Jay Speights
Is this group all that the ambassador says, or is it in reality just another feel-good diplomatic effort with no teeth that was hatched in the culture of the United Nations? We all know that the United Nations has not lived up to its potential. But it is the best shot that we have at global peace. Having said that, I believe that the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace is the best shot we have at a meaningful global interfaith dialogue. I say this, even though membership and participation in this group are voluntary and it is not a legal entity, because it brings all the major players together.
The list of members of the Tripartite Forum is impressive and growing: 50 U.N. member states, including the Holy See and the Islamic Republic of Iran; 15 U.N. member system organizations, and representatives of the 110 religious NGOs. In my opinion, to get these groups under one umbrella to discuss a global interfaith approach to peace is a major feat.
I believe that there cannot be enough interfaith dialogue. Most of the major conflict around this planet is rooted in religious intolerance in some way. So anything that keeps interfaith dialogue and cooperation on the front burner should be embraced. The high-level dialogue between the members of the Tripartite Forum has the potential to spill over and trickle down to other levels.
I believe it has. A lot has happened since the Tripartite Forum for Interfaith Cooperation and Peace was first conceptualized back in 2005 and its subsequent official founding in 2006. According to Ambassador Davide, "Interfaith dialogue has gained growing interest worldwide and is recognized by the Group of 77 (a U.N. caucus dedicated to helping developing nations leverage power at the United Nations) and China, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum. It is currently the flagship project of UNESCO for the biennium 2006-2007; it was noted in the 2005 World Summit Outcome; and served as one of the premises in the creation of the Human Rights Council. More importantly, it gave impetus to the unanimous adoption by the U.N. General Assembly at its 62nd session of the resolution entitled "Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation" introduced by Pakistan and the Philippines and co-sponsored by over 50 countries." In addition, last year, international interfaith conferences were held in New York; Moscow; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Larnaca, Cyprus; Bali, Indonesia; and Cebu City, Philippines.
It should be noted that had it not been for the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations and its tireless efforts over the years to make interfaith dialogue and cooperation a priority at the United Nations, I believe none of these things would have happened. The committee is continuing to keep interfaith dialogue at the top of the U.N. agenda under its president, Hiro Sakurai of Soka Gakkai International.
Finally, let us congratulate the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation and Peace on its one-year anniversary, and hope that this "child born out of a universal love for justice and passion for peace," as Ambassador Davide called it, grows and blossoms into an independent entity that can leave a lasting and meaning legacy by which all religious traditions honor the rights of others to express their religious and cultural traditions without fear.
— — —
Rev. Jay Speights, with an MA in public policy, is an interfaith minister and main U.N. representative for the New Seminary in New York. You can learn more about his work at the United Nations at the New Seminary website. His email address is {email jayspeights@newseminary.org}jayspeights@newseminary.org{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Jay Speights