Beyond War and Towards Reconciliation: Multi-Religious Peace Roundtables The Second Tokyo Peace Roundtable Statement
We, religious leaders, representatives of diverse faiths, bodies, and religious institutions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism) from Colombia, Haiti, India, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mali, Myanmar, Palestine, Peru, Russia, Spain, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United States, coming from contexts of ongoing conflict and war, came together for the Second Tokyo Peace Roundtable, to build trust, heal divisions, and foster forgiveness and reconciliation for more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
We are deeply concerned at the unimaginable suffering that people are undergoing in conflict zones throughout the world, including in Haiti, the Middle East, Myanmar, and Ukraine.
We recognise that the foundations of peace and security are threatened in every region of the world, while the most vulnerable – women, children, and marginalised peoples – are caught in the crossfire and disproportionately suffering from severe violence, displacement, and other human rights violations.
Inspired by the divine teachings of our respective religions and beliefs, we unite in our multi-religious vision of peace, and our common responsibility to serve as bridge-builders and peacemakers, and to foster reconciliation and positive relationships in our war-torn communities.
We are grateful to one another for the table we shared, and to our hosts – Religions for Peace International, Religions for Peace Japan, and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations – for convening us around this multi-religious peace roundtable.
Building on key learnings from the first Tokyo Peace Roundtable, we engaged in a meaningful dialogue, exchanging reflections and recommendations on addressing ongoing conflict and persistent barriers to multi-religious action for healing and reconciliation.
We reaffirm that we all belong to one human family and bear a collective responsibility to advance action for shared well-being and human flourishing. We denounce war and violence, recognising its violation of the sacred principle of upholding the sanctity of life and human dignity.
As religious leaders representing diverse faiths, we collectively affirm that:
- The sanctity of life and human dignity must be upheld and protected at all times, recognising that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights;
- Religious leaders have a shared responsibility to foster positive peace, and promote compassion and understanding of our shared humanity and well-being; and,
- The provision of humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected populations must be depoliticised and grounded upon the restoration of peace, security, justice, and human dignity.
Together, we call for:
- The cessation and transformation of all ongoing wars, conflicts, and the use of violence and weapons – including nuclear, conventional, cyber weapons, and improvised explosive devices – based on our collective responsibility to resolve disputes through peaceful means that uphold and protect the sanctity of life and human dignity, including for the most vulnerable;
- The conservation and protection of the sanctity of, and safe and free access to, houses of worship and holy sites, in both times of war and conflicts, and in times of peace and harmony;
- The collaboration of all religious and faith communities and stakeholders in advancing positive peace;
- A continuation of multi-religious peace dialogues that convene religious leaders and other stakeholders, including civil society and the media, from all sides of conflicts to build trust, share wisdom, and cultivate interfaith cooperation and harmony.
In the realisation of our multi-religious vision of peace, we commit to the following collective actions:
- Work together, as bridge-builders and peacemakers, in ensuring that no one is left behind in common action to address severe violence, displacement, and other human rights violations;
- Mobilise our religious assets and communities to provide humanitarian assistance for war-torn communities, including the most vulnerable, and advance interfaith cooperation for the common good and the protection of our common home;
- Cultivate and promote sustained engagement of stakeholders, including women and youth, in advancing common action for shared well-being and human flourishing;
- Build positive peace through long-term processes for healing and reconciliation to avoid the recurrence and perpetuation of war and violence;
- Promote unity and healing among families and communities that have been harmed and separated by the abovementioned conflicts and wars that create violence, abuse and exploitation, and other human rights violations; and,
- Continue to convene the Multi-Religious Peace Roundtables to build trust, heal divisions, and foster forgiveness and reconciliation for more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
We, religious leaders, offer our heartfelt prayers and unwavering solidarity to those suffering the brunt of ongoing wars and violence. We reaffirm our commitment to continue to pray and work multi-religiously towards a culture of peace that advances shared well-being, grounded in respect for the sanctity of life and human dignity.