Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary General António Guterres open 1st Assembly on Women, Faith, & Diplomacy
20201109
From November 10 to 13, over 1,000 representatives of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and other religions will meet virtually to discuss new forms of policymaking, with a focus on women and diplomacy. Organised by the interreligious non-governmental organisation Religions for Peace along with the Foundation for the Peace Dialogue of World Religions and Civil Society (Ring for Peace) the assembly showcases, through testimonies and expert interviews, new ways to promote interreligious dialogue in difficult times and on several fronts: peacebuilding and terrorism, environment, leadership, hate speech, migrants, and gender violence.
Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel will open the assembly virtually with a welcome address, highlighting wider effects of recent terror attacks in Austria, France and Germany. UN Secretary General António Guterres will talk on necessity of having women in peacebuilding.
Other speakers include Mary McAleese previous President of Ireland, Michelle Müntefering, Minister of State for International Cultural Policy at the Federal Foreign Office, Germany, Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); Jama Egal, National Peacebuilding Coordinator of Somali Government; Laura Anyola Tufon, Coordinator, Justice and Peace Commission, Cameroon; Sharon Rosen, Global Director, Search for Common Ground; Lucy Calladine, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google; and many others.
Under the motto “Keeping Faith, Transforming Tomorrow”, participants will reflect on the global role of women, their challenges in leadership and policymaking as well as their responsibilities in multi-religious peacebuilding and international development. For Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, the growing influence of women in contributing to peace and security worldwide is a key focus. The aim of the assembly – to include women and faith in diplomacy.
On 11 November at 6.30 pm CET, there will also be an interreligious Peace & Light Ceremony at the Ring for Peace in Lindau (Germany) and in other participating cities across the world participants will place a candle in windows as visible sign of peace and unity. The assembly is supported and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Press accreditation for the 1st Assembly on Women, Faith & Diplomacy in Lindau:
https://ringforpeace.org/press/accreditation/
Further information, photos for download, livestreams, vitae, press releases and regular updates can be found at: https://wfd2020ringforpeace.org/ and https://rfp.org
facebook.com/religionsforpeaceintl
#womenfaithdiplomacy #faithinspirespeace
Press Conferences will be held on Tuesday and Friday, 12:45 CET. Press Briefings will be held at the same time on Wednesday and Thursday. All accredited press will receive information to join the press conferences.
Press Contact (Religions for Peace): press@rfp.org
Press Contact (Ring for Peace): press@ringforpeace.org