WUNRN
Initiative
for a UN Decade of Interreligious
Dialogue
and Cooperation for Peace
We
are pleased to share with you a powerful emerging initiative in the interfaith field
aimed at having the United Nations declaring 2011-2020 as “Decade of
Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace”. A draft proposal is attached. Together with inviting you to support this
initiative, we will appreciate receiving your feedback as coordinator of a
network dealing with religious issues. You will find at the end of this letter
some specific questions we would like you to address in your reply.
There is a growing recognition of the role played by individuals and communities of diverse religions and beliefs in all societies. Sadly, many situations of injustice and conflict have religious or ideological origins and dimensions. At the same time, there is also a sense of hope that comes from the development of a number of religious and interreligious initiatives committed to peace building.
Within the UN the role of
interreligious dialogue and cooperation for peace has been clearly expressed in
recent resolutions of its General Assembly which promote “interreligious
dialogue” as well as “religious and cultural understanding, harmony and
cooperation.” Worth mentioning is also the “Alliance of Civilizations”
initiative, launched by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in July
2005. In October 2007, the General Assembly convened
a “high level dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Cooperation for
the promotion of tolerance, understanding and universal respect on matters of
religion or belief and cultural diversity, in coordination with other similar
initiatives in this area”. In
December 2007, the General Assembly decided “to declare 2010
as the International Year for Rapprochement of Cultures” and recommended
that “during the course of the year appropriate events be organized on
interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace.”
The time seems ripe to build on the momentum
that has been built around the importance of interreligious dialogue and
cooperation and work for the launch of a “UN Decade of Interreligious
Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace 2011-2020”.
A number of individuals, interfaith and faith
organizations have worked for some time to develop the concept for this Decade
and to build support for it. A
significant step in this process was a consultation, hosted by the World Council
of Churches (WCC) and the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with
the United Nations (CONGO), in Bossey,
The Draft Document: “Proposal for a UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION FOR PEACE” is attached to this letter for your information.
We kindly ask you to read the document and seriously consider your support for the idea of this Decade. You may do this by responding to the Coordinator, Dr. Gerardo Gonzalez, E-mail: decade@vtr.net.
We will appreciate your considering the following questions in your response:
1. What elements of the proposed DECADE are of particular
interest to you and your organization?
2. How can this proposal be strengthened?
3. Would your organization be willing to be a partner in
the Coalition? What may be your specific contributions?
4. Please, confirm your contact
information.
On behalf of the Provisional Steering Committee we strongly encourage you as soon as possible to join what we hope will be a strong movement that will make the United Nations Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace more than a ceremonial concept. We can build a momentum that makes the implementation of the Decade dynamic, and significantly impact the work towards peace throughout our world.
Warm regards
|
|
|
|
|
Stein Villumstad Chairperson Provisional Steering
Committee
|
Trevor Davies Deputy Chairperson Provisional Steering
Committee |
Gerardo Gonzalez Coordinator |
|
CONTACT
INFORMATION |
||
|
Stein Villumstad Deputy Secretary General Religions for Peace 777 United Nations Plaza E-mail: svillumstad@wcrp.org |
Trevor Davies Chair 11 ave de la Paix, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 917 6556 or +41 776 5153 Mobile +41 79 669 7026 E-mail:
daviest40@gmail.com |
Dr. Gerardo Gonzalez Via Esmeralda 9440, Vitacura, Santiago, CHILE. Tel: 56-2-2185578 and
2180620, mobile: 56-99-8889749 E-mail: gerardo.gonzalez@mi.cl |
================================================================
To leave the list, send your request by email to:
wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com. Thank you.