Regional Interfaith Dialogue, Connecting and Cooperating for Peace and Harmony In the Asia-Pacific region
14 August 2014: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has published a report, titled ‘Women’s Empowerment at the Frontline of Adaptation: Emerging Issues, Adaptive Practices, and Priorities in Nepal.’ The publication outlines the vulnerabilities of women in Nepal, especially as climate change threatens rural livelihoods, and examines women’s roles in adapting to a changing climate and natural resource base.
It began with a visit to the Vatican in November 2007, the first time a Saudi monarch had visited a pope. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was on a mission to engage Pope Benedict XVI after the Vatican repeatedly ignored Muslim imams and scholars’ requests for broader dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon drew attention to the role of faith leaders in promoting female empowerment, noting that they can help address gender prejudices and support women’s participation in society at all levels.
In delivering the 2013 UN Message to World Interfaith Harmony week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said “For billions of people around the world, faith is an essential foundation of life.”
World Interfaith Harmony Week was launched in Melbourne at Parliament House, on Friday, 1 February 2013.
World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event in the first week of February each year. This is an activity supported by member-states of the United Nations.
Civil society, including religious organizations and institutions, have an important role to play in the Rio+20 conference and the implementation of its outcomes.
Quoting Dr Hans Kung, “There will be no peace among the nations without peace among the religions, and there will be no peace among the religions without dialogue among the religions, said Rev. Michael Beckwith at the United Nations.
Women’s perspectives should be included in all levels of decision making, including religion and interfaith dialogue, said Ven. Dr. Chung Ohun Lee of Won Buddhism International to the United Nations General Assembly.
Interfaith harmony lies at the very foundation of human development, which in turn is part and parcel of the prevention of conflicts, resolution of conflict, and long-term sustainability of peacebuilding, Dr Azza Karam said at the United Nations during World Interfaith Harmony Week.