UNHCR-Religions for Peace Multi-Religious Council of Leaders

Religions for Peace and UNHCR Launches the Multi-religious Council of Leaders

13 April 2021 – As a follow up to the first ever high-level strategic roundtable co-hosted by Religions for Peace and UNHCR last year, the two organizations today launched the Multi-religious Council of Leaders to strengthen efforts to address the root causes of conflict and displacement, and supporting peacebuilding, inclusivity and reconciliation.

The Council consist of religious leaders representing the world’s diverse faith traditions with a track record of serving as strong advocates for conflict prevention, reconciliation and peacebuilding in challenging humanitarian as well as forced displacement contexts, and have experience in building a culture of peace that protects the most vulnerable, especially those at risk of gender-based violence.

With a three-year tenure leading up to the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the Council’s objectives include generating multi-religious advocacy, and synergized efforts, serving forcibly displaced and stateless people, in support of UNHCR, at global, regional and national levels.

Multi-Religious Council of Leaders

· H.E. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Senior Representative of His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar; Secretary General of the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity; Co-President, Religions for Peace, EGYPT

· H.E. Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, Sultanate of Sokoto; Co-President, Religions for Peace, NIGERIA

· Prof. Dr. Said Aqil Siradj, Chairman, Nahdlatul Ulama, Co-President, Religions for Peace, INDONESIA

· H.E Metropolitan Emmanuel, Elder Metropolitan of Chalcedon; Co-Moderator, Religions for Peace, FRANCE

· Ms. Emina Frljak, Program Coordinator, Youth for Peace; Member, Religions for Peace International Youth Committee, Religions for Peace, BOSNIA & HEZERGOVINA

· Ms. Malka Izbitzki, Secretary General-elect, Inter-Religious Council of Mexico; Member, Israelite Tribune, Branch of the Central Committee of the Jewish Community of Mexico, Religions for Peace, MEXICO

· H.E. Archbishop Dr. Antje Jackelen, Lutheran Archbishop of Uppsala; Primate of the Church of Sweden; Co-President, Religions for Peace, SWEDEN

· Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President, Union for Reform Judaism, Honorary President, Religions for Peace, UNITED STATES

· The Venerable Phra Medhivajirodom, UNHCR’s Patron for Compassion, THAILAND

· Rev. Kosho Niwano, President-Designate, Rissho Kosei-Kai; Co-Moderator, Religions for Peace, JAPAN

· Grand-Father Dominique Rankin, Algonquin Hereditary Grand Chief; Co-President, Religions for Peace, CANADA

· Imam Sayed Razawi, Director General / Chief Imam, Scottish Ahlulbayt Society, Religions for Peace European Council of Religious Leaders, UNITED KINGDOM

· Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh, OBE KSG, Chairman, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha; Co-President, Religions for Peace, UNITED KINGDOM

· H.H. Shri Shri Sugunendra Teertha Swamiji, Abbot, Sri Puthige Matha Monastery; Co-President, Religions for Peace, INDIA

· Dr. Nayla Tabbara, Co-Founder, Adyan Foundation; Co-President, Religions for Peace, LEBANON

· Ms. Nageeba Hassan Tegulwa, Board Member, Women of Faith Network, Uganda; Executive Board Member, Religions for Peace-African Council of Religious Leaders, Kenya

· H.E. Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, first Metropolitan Archbishop, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA

· H.E. Bishop Elias Toumeh, Greek Orthodox Bishop of Wadi Nasara, Religions for Peace, SYRIA

· H.E. Pastor Henri Yé, President of the Federation of Evangelical Churches and Missions; President, Inter-Religious Council of Burkina Faso, Religions for Peace, BURKINA FASO