Step Forward for UN Decade of Dialogue

Hopes for a UN Decade of Dialogue took a big step forward last week with the creation of a Coalition of faith-based, interfaith and value-based organisations, pledged to work together to realise this vision.

The meeting was in response to a UN General Assembly resolution, approved unanimously in November 2008 and sponsored by 78 Member States which requested “the Office for Economic and Social Council Support and Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, which plays the focal point role on inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilizational matters, to coordinate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in facilitating consideration of the possibility of proclaiming a United Nations decade for inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace”
See Resolution A/63/L.24/Rev.2 of 13 November 2008. Paragraph 8.

Over fifty organisations, including representatives from all the great world religions, took part in the meeting to form the coalition, which was held at the Maryknoll Centre at Ossining, near New York. Among those taking part were representatives of the World Council of Churches, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the Roman Catholic International Union of Superior Generals of Religious Congregations, Religions for Peace and the World Scout Movement. The meeting ended with a briefing session in the Eco-Chamber at the United Nations.

The President of the UN General Assembly, H.E Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, expressed his strong support for the initiative, saying, ‘As we rush to prevent the immediate social devastation that is already seen in the world, we must keep clam and keep our eye on the prize – long-term peace and justice for all citizens of this beleagured planet. In this lies the strength of your Coalition.’ Rev Dr Marcus Braybrooke, representing the World Congress of Faiths and the Three Faiths Forum said, ‘The Decade will be sign of hope. It will help the UN reconnect with ordinary people and challenge faith communities to make their priority the search for peace and justice, the relief of poverty and the preservation of the planet.’