Bureau du COE auprès des Nations Unies, New York

Installé au Church Center for the United Nations, l’EUNO est le centre du Conseil œcuménique des Églises pour les initiatives de plaidoyer au siège des Nations Unies à New York.

Avec l’Alliance ACT, le COE, par l’intermédiaire de l’EUNO, joue un rôle clé en initiant et facilitant des actions de plaidoyer à différents niveaux et en élaborant des stratégies œcuméniques conjointes sur des questions prioritaires.

L’EUNO est un instrument clé car il permet d’offrir une plateforme aux plus marginalisés d’entre nous, en particulier ceux de l’hémisphère sud. Ils peuvent ainsi témoigner de leurs expériences et de la vérité, afin d’influencer les politiques et la prise de décision, tant aux Nations Unies à New York que dans les États membres ou au sein d’autres institutions intergouvernementales et multilatérales. 

En engageant un dialogue continu et une coopération programmatique avec des agences telles que le Groupe de travail interinstitutions des Nations Unies sur la religion et le développement durable, le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l’enfance (UNICEF), le Fonds des Nations Unies pour la population (FNUAP) et ONU Femmes, nous visons à renforcer et promouvoir le discours et la pratique des Nations Unies sur les questions de paix et de sécurité, de développement durable et de droits de la personne. Grâce à ces partenariats dynamiques, l’EUNO fait résonner l’appel à l’action de la communauté œcuménique, en promouvant la consolidation de la paix, la réconciliation, les droits de la personne, la résistance pacifique à la violence et le développement durable.

La raison d’être de l’EUNO est d’amplifier la voix prophétique et les valeurs du mouvement œcuménique dans les divers cadres multilatéraux des Nations Unies (ONU) et en relation avec les principes communs de la charte des Nations Unies et du droit international. Notre objectif est d’influencer la politique et la prise de décision aux Nations Unies à New York, dans les États membres et au sein d’autres institutions intergouvernementales et multilatérales.

Par la collaboration œcuménique et dans l’esprit œcuménique, nous espérons pouvoir accroître la capacité de nos Églises et agences membres à défendre des causes, et être présents lors de moments décisifs où les voix du mouvement œcuménique peuvent influencer le discours mondial sur les questions les plus cruciales de justice et de paix dans le monde aujourd’hui.

Un élément essentiel de la stratégie de plaidoyer de l’EUNO est d’encourager les responsables d’Églises et les porte-parole de certaines communautés à s’engager dans la défense de causes au niveau national ainsi qu’auprès des décideurs aux Nations Unies, et de les aider à accroître leur capacité à le faire. Grâce à des relations de coopération avec les États membres de l’ONU, l’EUNO maintient ouverts les canaux de communication. Nous travaillons également à définir des synergies stratégiques au sein du mouvement œcuménique pour mettre en lien les différents acteurs et faciliter le plaidoyer collectif pour certaines causes.

L’EUNO veille à ce que le COE soit activement représenté et très influent dans les discussions sur les questions qui sont pour lui prioritaires: 

1. paix et sécurité

2. développement durable et suivi des Objectifs de développement durable (ODD)

3. religion, violence et extrémisme

4. justice de genre

5. droits des peuples autochtones.

Welcome
Introduction to the Symposium

Moderators: 
Ms Simona Cruciani, Senior Political Affairs Officer, UN Office of the Special Advisor on Prevention of Genocide
Mr Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary, ACT Alliance

8:10 High Level Opening
The formal welcome session will feature a high-level representative from three entities— UN Member States, the UN System and faith-based. It will focus on reaffirming the importance of the symposium in general and the urgency and relevance of the current theme.

Ms Alice Wairimu Nderitu, United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, UNOSAPG
Ms Diene Keita, Deputy Executive for Programme, UNFPA
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, General Secretary, World Council of Churches

8:35 Session 1 - Upholding Human Dignity: Respecting Rights, Flourishing Humanity

This session will serve as an introduction to where we are now and where we want to go as it relates to the UN and its mandates. It will address the role of faith actors and religious institutions in serving as a moral compass and guide to keeping human dignity at the core of human rights.  

Moderator: Ms Audrey Kitigawa, President/Founder, International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation

Dr Ganoune Diop, Director, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, Seventh-day Adventist Church
Ms Elisa Gazzotti, Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Representative to the UN, Human Rights Education Focal Point and Chair of NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education
Mr Atallah Fitzgibbon, Faith and Partnership Adviser, Islamic Relief Worldwide
Mr Michael Wiener, Human Rights Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva

Questions from the audience

9:50 Session 2 - Gender Equality, Peace, and Eradicating Violence

This session will serve as a space for understanding the interlinkages between the state of violence and conflict, its impact on gender equality, and how we can build a more just and peaceful world.   

Moderator: Ms Leyla Sharafy, Technical Adviser on Gender, UNFPA

Ms Karen Volker, Director of Partnership and Violence Prevention, United Religions Initiative
Rev Dr Elaine Neuenfeldt, Gender Justice Programme Manager, ACT Alliance
Mr Jimmie Briggs, Principal, Skoll Foundation
Dr Azza Karam, President, Women’s Learning Partnership

Questions from the audience

11:05 Session 3 - Key Learnings for a Just, Peaceable and Inclusive Future

This session serves as the learning and hearing section of the Symposium on practical experiences from different levels–grassroots, national, regional, multiregional and international. This session also contributes to the Summit of the Future and an elaboration of the UN Pact for the Future.  

Moderator:  Rev Dr Liberato Bautista, Assistant General Secretary for United Nations and International Affairs, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church

Mr Anwar Khan, President, Islamic Relief USA
Ms Emily Kenney, Policy Specialist, Rule of Law, UN Women
H.E. Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, Grand Mufti, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council; Co-Moderator, Religions for Peace-African Council of Religious Leaders
Ms Amani Aruri, Karama Network
Mr Peter Prove, Director, International Affairs, World Council of Churches

Questions from the audience

12:20 Concluding Remarks

Ms Simona Cruciani, Senior Political Affairs Officer, UNOSAPG
Mr Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary, ACT Alliance

12:30 Close

The 2024 Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-based Organizations in International Affairs marks a significant milestone as it celebrates its tenth edition in a distinguished series of annual gatherings that began in 2015. A decade ago, faith-based partners initiated this symposium, which coincided with Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday that aimed at fostering dialogue on the intricate interplay between religion and international affairs. With a deliberate inclusion of UN member states and entities, the symposium sought to create a platform for collaborative policymaking and constructive engagement.

In 2016, the second symposium established a strong partnership with the UN Interagency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development, creating an annual policy dialogue involving UN entities, member states, faith-based actors, and civil society to address pressing global challenges. Past themes included human rights, preventing atrocities, promoting peace, addressing migration, and economic justice. The 2020 symposium was postponed, leading to a workshop for faith-based organizations. The 2021 and 2022 virtual  symposia focused on gender equality and combating systemic injustices. In 2023, the symposium emphasized human security. The upcoming 10th Symposium will reiterate commitment to human rights and dignity, fostering consensus for future events. It aims to inspire collective action for a compassionate society and aligns with the World Interfaith Harmony Week in February to promote understanding among diverse religious communities worldwide.

Do we need subheading here?

The 10th Symposium is timely as the international community both takes stock of progress on existing commitments and look to address the challenges of the future.  The world  is radically different from when the UN was conceived, and different even from the context that shaped the 2030 Agenda. The introduction to Our Common Agenda states: “Humanity faces a stark and urgent choice: breakdown or breakthrough”. 

• Common theme of progress reviews - despite some successes, woefully off track in almost all areas, in part worsened as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic but ultimately due to existing/unfair systems and structures, insufficient funding towards a just transition towards an economy of life and a lack of political urgency to address the polycrises of our time.
• SDG Summit - promises of commitment and accelerated progress to achievement, but need for concrete policies and finance
• December 2023 also marks the 75th anniversary of the UDHR - link here to current context; impunity; abuse of rights by multi-sectors etc

• Need to continue to work to achieve these  existing agreements but in a world changing rapidly with critical issues such as  the consequences of climate change, the rise of AI, pushbacks on human rights standards and global governance, protracted humanitarian crises, we also need to look at how we can achieve 2030 Agenda in the emerging context.
  Call to engage with Pact for the Future, but also noting solidarity with GS in that core issues around global financial structures, funding, technology transfer remain and need to be transformed as a basis for moving forward.
• Resources, climate change and environmental degradation, continue to drive conflict, alongside rise of populism, fundamentalisms and xenophobia -  connect here to New AGenda for Peace, with key steps forward.

Key focus areas:

1- Upholding Human Dignity: Exploring Humanity, Rights, and Respect:  The core question of what it means to be human will be explored deeply. The symposium will underscore that embracing human rights must be intrinsically tied to respecting the dignity of every individual. Discussions will encompass the significance of dignity in personal and professional relationships and the responsibilities we have in safeguarding it.

2. Faith Communities Shaping the Future We Want: In the planning for what follows the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the active role of the faith community in society and their roles as thought leaders and service providers highlight the importance of faith leaders in negotiations and output of plans for the future.

3. Champions of Change for Gender Equality, Peace, and Eradicating Violence: Explore the impact of faith-based organizations on promoting gender equality, women's empowerment, and challenging harmful cultural norms. Discuss successes and challenges in this area. Examine the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in promoting peace, mediating conflicts, and fostering dialogue among different communities. Do FBOs and religious leaders have a responsibility in addressing, intervening, and preventing violence (both religiously motivated violence and other forms of communal violence)? Discuss case studies where these organizations have successfully contributed to conflict resolution. This could tie into a discussion on how the advancement and success of achieving the SDGs are affected by violence.  

4. Navigating the Crossroads: Assessing the Role of Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs: Engage in a balanced discussion about potential challenges or controversies associated with the involvement of faith-based organizations in international affairs, including questions of accountability, neutrality, and potential conflicts of interest. Can also include discussions on the local and global impacts of FBOs, considering how their efforts influence both their immediate communities and the broader international landscape.

Format of the Symposium:

• High Level Welcome:
  The formal welcome session will feature a high level representative from three entities—faith-based and IATF-nominated speakers from the UN System and UN member state. It will focus on reaffirming the importance of the symposium in general and the urgency and relevance of the current theme.

• Opening Session:
  This session will serve as an introduction to where we are now and where we want to go as it relates to the United Nations and its mandate. It will address the role of faith-based organizations in serving as a moral compass and guide to keeping human dignity at the core of human rights.

• Session on Champions of Change for Gender Equality, Peace, and Eradicating Violence:
  This session will serve as a space for understanding the interlinkages between the state of violence and conflict, its impact on gender equality and how we can build a more peaceful world.

• Session on Key Learnings: (practical experiences from different levels–grassroots, national, regional, multiregional/international) 
  This session serves as the learning and hearing section of the symposium.

• Concluding Session: 
  This concluding session will feature two key speakers–one from the faith-based group and another from the UN system–who will provide key ideas about what needs to be done next. This session is envisioned to impart a strong call for collaboration and partnership on the key learnings from the symposium.

Participation:

Invitations will be sent to various constituencies and networks of the collaborating symposium partners. This includes FBOs, civil society organizations, member states and their permanent missions, and UN agencies through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development. 

Registration to participate online is open to all to join interactively. The symposium will be broadcast live via YouTube for general public viewing.

Documentation 

Following in the tradition of previous symposiums, a symposium packet will be produced electronically and distributed in advance. It will include this concept note, a short bibliography of reference materials to prepare participants for discussion, and a list of biographies of panel moderators and speakers. A weblink to the event will contain the symposium packet as well as post-event documentation of presentations and statements. As a hybrid event, various social media platforms will be used to simulcast and broadcast the symposium.

Readings 

• U.N. Resources

Our Common Agenda Report

New Agenda for Peace

• Religious, Ecumenical and Interfaith Resources 

Symposium History

Summary of the Symposium History

Ms Donna Bollinger

Email: [email protected]

Address:

777, United Nations Plaza

10017 New York, New York, USA