Religions for Peace

Religions for Peace (RfP), in partnership with the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), launched the Multi-religious Collaboration for the Survival and Wellbeing of Children (MCC) Program in Uganda amidst more than 365 religious and cultural leaders, government representatives, UNICEF and other stakeholders from various parts of Uganda. This was the start of a five-year initiative to enhance the survival and well‐being of children under-five years of age which will later be expanded to five other African countries - Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Worldwide, more than 7 million children die before the age of five of easily preventable or treatable diseases.

Approximately 30 senior members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as members of the Japanese Trustee Group joined a Religions for Peace (RfP) consultation on “Religion and Foreign Policy: Track 1.5 Engagement in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding,” at the Lower House in Tokyo on November 13, 2012. The formation of a Japanese bi-partisan parliamentary support group for RfP International was initiated in 2005, which has paved the way for the historic first Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) for RfP Thailand’s inter-religious conflict transformation project.

Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim leaders of Religions for Peace (RfP) Myanmar met with US President Barack Obama during his historic visit to the country on November 19, 2012. Al Haj U Aye Lwin, the Islamic leader in RfP Myanmar, stated “President Obama emphatically called for respect for human rights, rule of law, tolerance and respect for diversity. The Muslim community in Myanmar is pleased with the recent statement by President U Thein Sein, agreeing to these points and assuring that measures will be taken to address the issues..."

Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities in Myanmar together launched the Religions for Peace Myanmar as the country’s first full-fledged representative and action-oriented interreligious body for reconciliation, peace and development. Approximately 100 religious, diplomatic, political and civil society leaders in Myanmar and Religions for Peace International leaders joined the inauguration. Religions for Peace Myanmar consists of Myanmar’s major religious organizations, including the Buddhist Sitagu Sayadaw community; the Ratana Metta Buddhist Organization; the Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC); the Catholic Church; the Hindu Community in Myanmar; and the Islamic Center of Myanmar. “Communal harmony must be the bedrock of authentic development for Myanmar,” added Secretary General Dr. Vendley.

Religions for Peace Interreligious Council of Thailand was awarded the Japanese government’s official development assistance grant for its conflict transformation work in southern Thailand. The “Advancing Human Security through Inter-religious Cooperation in Thailand” project will engage civil society, government, religious leaders and actors, including women and youth, in addressing the misuse of religious identities to fuel conflict in the south of Thailand. The project will provide intensive training for religious leaders and actors on practical approaches to advancing human security, facilitating inter-religious dialogue and engaging in inter-religious cooperation. Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, commended the Religions for Peace Interreligious Council of Thailand for its important initiative to engage diverse Thai religious communities to help transform conflict and build peace in southern Thailand.