Toward an Interreligious Council at the United Nations

Consultations organized by the Universal Peace Federation

Vision for an Interreligious Council

The existing United Nations structure, composed of national representatives, may be regarded as a congress where the interests of each member nation are represented. However, I submit that serious consideration should be given to forming a religious assembly, or council of religious representatives within the structure of the United Nations. This assembly or council would consist of respected spiritual leaders in fields such as religion, culture, and education.

Dr. Sun Myung MoonAddress at the United Nations, August 18, 2000

Mission of an Interreligious Council

Promote interreligious dialogue, understanding, and cooperation for peace.

Draw on spiritual and religious wisdom to address global issues of conflict, war, poverty, hunger, and disease.

Address conflicts with religious and ethnic bases.

Guiding Principle

Affirmation of the sacred value and rights of all human beings, regardless of religion, nationality, ethnicity, and race

The Albania Peace Council addresses issues faced by Balkan nations.

Benefits to the UN

Complement the UN’s work with additional dimensions for assessing and resolving global problems.

Give insights on moral and spiritual issues.Help counter religious extremism.Help prevent religious differences from being

exploited to stir up conflict.Ensure that development aid is culturally and

religiously sensitive.Serve as a recourse for minority communities.

Benefits to Religions

Help build bridges between liberals and fundamentalists in the same faith.

Challenge the misuse of religion as a cover for politically or economically-motivated violence.

Expand the potential of religion to change people’s hearts and deepen relationships.

Provide a model of how spiritual and religious groups can rise above differences and work together for the common good.

Progress in Interreligious Dialogue at the UN

2004

Promote Interreligious Dialogue, G.A. resolution 59/23 (Sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations)

2006 Tripartite Interfaith Forums begin at the UN:Partnership of Member States, UN bodies, & NGOs

2007

Establishment of a Focal Unit in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the UN,G.A. Resolution 61/221

2007 & 2008

High-Level Dialogues in the General Assembly on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace

2011 World Interfaith Harmony Week, established by General Assembly resolution: first week of February every year

First World Interfaith Harmony Weekobserved at the UN General Assembly Hall

Theme: “Common Ground for the Common Good”

World Interfaith Harmony Weekobserved at the UN headquarters in Vienna

Theme: “The Role of Religions in Promoting a Culture of Peace”

World Interfaith Harmony Weekexpressions of interreligious cooperation

MalaysiaNorway

Russia Brazil

Proposed Activities of an Interreligious Council

Assess global

Issues and advise UN

bodies

International and

grassroots action

Conflict prevention

Post-conflict resolution

Dialogue and

deliberation

Proposed Scope of Activity

Work in close cooperation with UN member states, UN agencies, governments, regional organizations, faith communities, and other institutions of civil society.UPF hosted a side forum at the Alliance of Civilizations Sixth Global Forum in Bali.

Dialogue and Deliberation

Promote interreligious dialogue, understanding and cooperation in support of peacebuilding efforts.

Establishment of the National Interreligious Peace Council of Thailand

Assess Global Issues

Analyze, review, and report on global issues.Bring together experts in various fields from

diverse religious traditions to recommend solutions.

Track II interfaith consultation on the crisis in Syria at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland

International and Grassroots Action

Invite consultation and collaboration with civil society, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

Middle East Peace Initiative international consultation in Jerusalem

Conflict Intervention

• Cultivate connections between opposing sides through citizen diplomacy.

Building bridges between warring nations, Russians meet with Georgian officials at the International Center for Negotiations in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Post-Conflict Resolution

Draw on additional perspectives and resources to address social issues.

Africa Day celebrations together with the African Union in New York addressed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Challenges to Consider

What areas or issues should be the primary focus of the council?

How to ensure a balance of representation both geographically and religiously?

Rally at Dhaka University in Bangladesh during World Interfaith Harmony Week

Challenges to Consider

How to ensure that smaller religions, minority branches of a religion, women and young people are represented?

Launching the Global Peace Women’s Network in Thailand at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok

Challenges to Consider

How to ensure that religious leaders do not try to usurp government roles?

How to prevent nations from using religion to give a cloak of respectability to questionable policies?

Challenges to Consider

How to ensure that narrow, self-centered concerns do not undermine an interreligious council?

A forum at the United Nations Information Centre in New Delhi on “Seeking Common Ground While Building Interfaith Harmony among Youth”

Challenges to Consider

How to build the capacity of faith communities to translate lofty ideas into practical policies?

Eyewitnesses reports of religious leaders in East Germany mediating between public officials and protesters, opening the way to the fall of the Berlin Wall and peaceful reunification of Germany.

Next Steps

Ongoing consultationsWork with experts to prepare a draft

resolution establishing such a council.Present a draft resolution to the General

Assembly.Garner support.

How to Get Involved

• Reach out to enlist support from government leaders, religious leaders, NGOs, etc.

• Participate in a consultation or submit input and recommendations.

For more information seewww.upf.org/united-nations/interreligious-council

Email editor@upf.org