We still work to "press the envelope" at the UN. Our 2005 Colloquium Series is keeping interreligious dialogue and the Peace Councils relevant to their work, and linking interreligious dialogue and interreligious action to peace building and preventive issues in a number of areas including HIV/AIDS, Middle East Peace, prevention of corruption and the Information Society's role in peace and security. We are "expanding" the usual UN language that hold sacred the (secular) state, tolerating other states. Even linking human dignity to an understanding of the human being (and the human origins) most comprehensively expounded upon by religions, is a challenge for the UN. Yet, we are beginning to venture into those sacred territories also.

See following Press Release below for a more in-depth report:

RP SCORES ANOTHER VICTORY AT THE UN WITH UNANIMOUS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION ON INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

03 NOV 2005

NEW YORK The Philippines scored another victory at the United Nations today after the General Assembly unanimously adopted a Philippine-initiated resolution on the promotion of inter-religious dialogue and cooperation for peace.

In his report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, Ambassador Lauro L. Baja Jr., Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said the Philippine-initiated resolution entitled "Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace" was co-sponsored by 45 other member-states and was adopted by consensus during this morning's session of the General Assembly.

The new resolution embodies new elements reflecting factual developments that have transpired since the General Assembly's adoption by consensus last year of the Philippine-initiated resolution entitled "Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue." It affirms the need for all states to continue international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding among civilizations in an effort to prevent the targeting of different religions and cultures. It also underlines the importance of promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity, belief and language.

"The resolution takes a step forward by recognizing the mutually inclusive and mutually reinforcing linkages of the various interreligious, inter-cultural and inter-civilizational initiatives for the promotion of peace," Ambassador Baja said. "It also invites the Secretary-General to submit a report on ways to strengthen linkages and focus more on practical actions in the implementation of initiatives on interreligious dialogue and cooperation for peace."

"We are confident that the various interreligious, intercultural and inter-civilizational initiatives will grow into a process or mechanism for conflict prevention and for pacific settlement of disputes, a mechanism against terrorism and a mechanism for peace," he said.

Ambassador Baja said the text of the present resolution amplified last year's General Assembly resolution by the recognition given to interfaith dialogue in the World Summit outcome document, including the role of interfaith dialogue in combating terrorism and the expanded scope of interfaith dialogue to encompass the promotion and protection of human rights.

Ambassador Baja noted that the number of co-sponsors this year almost doubled that of last year and that the co-sponsors represent the different regions and religions and developing and developed and large and small countries.

"This is an indication of the growing interest that the Philippines has generated in the field of interfaith dialogue and cooperation as an important instrument for the promotion of peace," the ambassador said as he also cited the efforts of Filipino diplomats led by Minister Leslie Gatan in ensuring the unanimous adoption of the resolution.

The resolution was co-sponsored by the following member-states: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Senegal, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tunisia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Ambassador Baja said the co-sponsors include member-states who participated and sponsored the Philippine-initiated Informal Meeting of Leaders on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation chaired by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in September and the interfaith conference chaired by Secretary Alberto Romulo in June.

During the Informal Meeting on the sides of the World Summit on 13 September, the 15 participating leaders adopted a declaration highlighting the mutually inclusive and mutually reinforcing inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilizational initiatives, all designed to promote peace at the local, national, regional and international levels.

The informal summit was followed by the Security Council Summit on 14 September 2005, also chaired by President Arroyo, which adopted Resolution 1624 calling upon all States "to continue international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding among civilizations, in an effort to prevent the indiscriminate targeting of different religions and cultures.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites