Peace and Security: The Multireligious Imperative

Peace and Security: The Multireligious Imperative, moderated by H.E. Amb. Marie-Therese Pictet-Althann, Order of Malta Permanent Observer to the UN Geneva; Honorary President, Religions for Peace aimed to analyze the role of multireligious collaboration in fostering peace and security, and to identify the contributions of religious communities in peacebuilding processes.

Keynote speaker H.E. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, England acknowledged that religious communities have been vital in pandemic response and will be critical in responding to other global issues like the environment and conflict. It is important that different religious traditions continue to learn to work together to address these issues. In his keynote, Mr. Steve Killelea, International Trustee, Religions for Peace, argued that religion is difficult to disconnect from ecological issues and conflict. He suggests that religious leaders can work together to address these underlying ecological issues in order to prevent conflict and promote peace. Hon. Layla Alkhafaji, Elected Member of Political Bureau-Alhikmah Movement; Former Member of Iraqi Council of Representatives; Former International Relations Director, Al Hakim Foundation spoke about the incredible religious and cultural diversity of Iraq. Diversity, instead of a weakness or potential for conflict, can instead create opportunities for collaboration, bring in new perspectives, and create new solutions. Speaker Dr. Agnes Abuom, Moderator, World Council of Churches, addressed the great potential of women of faith in multireligious collaboration, especially in addressing violence against women.

Panelists Rev. Clement Joseph, Secretary General, Religions for Peace-Haiti and MISSEH, Christian, Haiti, Ms. Irmgard Maria Fellner, Deputy Director-General for Culture and Communication, German Federal Foreign Office, Ms. Opor Srisusan, Youth Member, International Network of Engaged Buddhists discussed the importance of interreligious discourse in political spaces, and of understanding a multitude of different perspectives. You can listen to the entire discussion, including a question and answer session from the audience, here.