Opening Ceremony Remarks by Prof. Azza Karam

It is great honor and privilege to welcome you to the 1^st Assembly on Women, Faith and Diplomacy entitled Keeping Faith and Transforming Tomorrow. This Assembly will focus on the nexus of gender, faith, and diplomacy, and is co-convened by Religions for Peace in partnership with the Foundation Peace Dialogue of the World Religions and Civil Society (Ring for Peace), and with the generous support of the German Federal Foreign Office.

We extend gratitude to the Religions for Peace leaders, such as those on the Advisory Council and World Council, who have been walking with us in this journey. As Religions for Peace and Ring for Peace kick off this Assembly, we congratulate the Vice President-Elect of the United States, Kamala Harris, and the Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand, Nanaia Mahuta, on their new roles.

With this Assembly let us redefine leadership, re-envision faith, and reconstruct diplomacy. Thank you.