Closing Ceremony

Maestra Zhang Zhang began the Closing Ceremony: Way Forward and Commitment to Action with a beautiful violin performance, which set a contemplative mood for participants to reflect on the past 4 days of conference sessions. Conference Studio hosts Emina Frljak and Dr. Renz Argao discussed how the Studio was “conference within a conference” that allowed both for deeper discussions with participants, especially across generational lines, and also provided virtual participants with the sense of joy and community that was felt in Lindau. Dr. Argao shared the concrete actions that the International Youth Committee is taking to make sure young people are heard at every level of Religions for Peace. 

Dr. Azza Karam commended participants, including H.E. Ms. Alice Wairimu Nderitu, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, United Nations Office of Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, and other high-level officials, for truly listening and engaging throughout the entirety of the Conference. Dr. Karam says these commitments to true participation are changing the culture of the UN. 

The engaging Diplomacy Roundtables resulted in a multitude of concrete plans and proposals, such as the call for religious communities to invest their funds in environmental protection. You can watch the whole session here to learn more from the reflections of conference participants and leaders from around the world.