Religions for Peace

 De Soto and Albright

Seventy percent of the world’s population – four billion people – are currently unable to improve their livelihoods no matter how hard they work due to multiple forms of exclusion. This exclusion is a grave injustice and a violation of the sacred dignity of every human being, affecting indigenous communities and women the worst, depriving them of political voice, equal rights and participation.

To explore the role religions can play in tackling this injustice a high-level global consultation of fifteen religious leaders and representatives of indigenous spiritual traditions was convened in New York from 5-8 February 2008. The religious leaders met in the spirit of forging a stronger partnership among different faith communities to work together for the well-being of all people and to examine what role religions can play in advancing legal empowerment for the poor.

The conference was organized by Religions for Peace in close collaboration with the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor. The Commission, chaired by Madeleine Albright and Hernando de Soto, comprises eminent policy makers and practitioners from around the world with recognized experience in planning and implementing public policy reforms. This consultation took place in parallel with the Commission’s final meeting to enable the religious leaders to interact with individual members as well as to address the entire Commission.

To read the religious leaders’ statement on legal empowerment of the poor, click here.

To read the press release, click here.

To download photos from the event, click here.