Transforming conflict across the world

Mission

To help transform conflict, build peace and sustainable development, here in the UK, in Europe and across the world.

"Throughout history, religious differences have divided men and women from their neighbours and have served as justification for some of humankind's bloodiest conflicts. In the modern world, it has become clear that people of all religions must bridge these differences and work together, to ensure our survival and realize the vision of peace that all faiths share." -- H.R.H. Prince El Hassan bin Talal, Moderator, Religions for Peace Activities The World Conference of Religions for Peace is the largest international coalition of representatives from the world's great religions who are dedicated to achieving peace. Respecting cultural differences while celebrating our common humanity, Religions for Peace is active on every continent and in some of the most troubled places on earth, creating multi-religious partnerships that mobilize the moral and social resources of religious people to address their shared problems. Religious communities are, without question, the largest and best-organized civil institutions in the world today, claiming the allegiance of billions of believers and bridging the divides of race, class and nationality. They are uniquely equipped to meet the challenges of our time: resolving conflicts, caring for the sick and needy, promoting peaceful co-existence among all peoples. Religions for Peace helps these communities unleash their enormous potential for common action. Some of Religions for Peace's recent successes include mediating dialogue among warring factions in Sierra Leone; building a new climate of reconciliation in Bosnia and Kosovo; organizing an international network of religious women's organizations; and launching an extraordinary program to assist the millions of children affected by Africa's AIDS pandemic, the Hope for African Children Initiative. The World Conference of Religions for Peace was founded in 1970 to provide leaders of the world's many religions with a forum in which they can share common concerns, address collective challenges, and express their hopes for the future. Since then, Religions for Peace has done just that, ` bringing together hundreds of key religious leaders every five years-most recently in Amman, Jordan, in 1999-for World Assemblies in which people of many faiths discuss the great issues of our time and affirm their shared commitment to multi-religious cooperation and common living. Our next World Assembly will be in Kyoto, Japan, during August 2006. The theme is "Confronting violence and advancing shared security". The goals and agendas developed during these truly inspirational gatherings serve as a foundation for the everyday work of Religions for Peace around the world. That work focuses on effecting change in the following areas:

Conflict Transformation and Reconciliation

The Child and the Family

Disarmament and Security

Development and Ecology

Human Rights and Responsibilities

Peace Education

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Published on: 2005-06-05 (1163 reads)