Interreligious dialogue and multilateral diplomacy

In a special paragraph the UNGA condemns any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audiovisual or electronic media, social media or any other means.

Having in mind the existing conflicts,the UNGA underlines the importance of moderation as a value within societies for countering violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism, while respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, and for further contributing to the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance, understanding and cooperation, and encourages efforts, as appropriate, to enable voices of moderation to work together in order to build a more secure, inclusive and peaceful world.

A special paragraph is dedicated to the media.The UNGA welcomes the efforts by the media to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, encourages the further promotion of dialogue among the media from all cultures and civilizations.

The UNGA acknowledged in the same context the active engagement of the United Nations system with faith-based and cultural organizations and other relevant non-governmental organizations in the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue and in bringing together people of different cultures, religions, faiths or beliefs to discuss common issues and objectives.

A significant acknowledgment was expressed by the UNGA about the important role of civil society, including academia, in fostering interreligious and intercultural dialogue.

In the final part of the resolution the UNGA invited Member States to further promote reconciliation to help to ensure durable peace and sustained development, including by working with faith leaders and communities and through reconciliatory measures and acts of service and by encouraging forgiveness and compassion among individuals.

The resolution ends by requesting the United Nations Secretary-General to report to the UNGA at its seventy-fifth session, in 2020, on its implementation.

While the consideration by diplomats of the resolution summarized above was relatively short in official meetings, due to its earlier detailed examination during informal diplomatic consultations, this document is expected to have a meaningful role in practice. The diplomats who took the floor on behalf of their countries stated that an open, inclusive and transparent approach was used during the negotiation process. As the international community is experiencing a growing trend of xenophobia and religious intolerance,the resolution was described as "more relevant than ever."Interreligious dialogue through engagement of faith leaders, civil society and academia is important for building intellectual and moral solidarity. Meaningful dialogue across cultural and religious identities is not an abstract idea, but a daily reality at the grassroots level between neighbors, families, students and colleagues.

Beyond these opinions expressed by diplomats,there is no doubt that an important role in the implementation of the resolution summarized in the present article belongs to religious leaders.

From this perspective, The Parliament of the World's Religionsdeserves to be mentioned.In 1993, 143 leaders from across the spectrum of the world's religions met in Chicago,USA, under The Global Ethic project. They condemned particularly "aggression and hatred in the name of religion." The participants affirmed that "there is an irrevocable, unconditional norm for all areas of life, for families and communities, for races, nations, and religions. There already exist ancient guidelines for human behavior which are found in the teachings of the religions of the world and which are the condition for a sustainable world order."

During the 1993 meeting it was argued that religions can contribute to world peace only if they reaffirm a three-fold conviction :No peace among the nations without peace among the religions.No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions.No dialogue between the religions without investigation of the foundations of the religions.

On this basis the Parliament affirmed four directives:Commitment to a culture of non-violence and respect for life.Commitment to a culture of solidarity and a just economic order.Commitment to a culture of tolerance and a life of truthfulness.Commitment to a culture of equal rights and partnership between men and women.

Multilateral diplomacy cannot ignore these commitments and using its first function of negotiation has the permanent duty of finding the most appropriate ways and means to encourage interreligious dialogue. For this purpose, the framework offered by global institutions like the United Nations and UNESCO should be used in a more robust manner.

As recently emphasized by Pope Francis, "In a world sadly marked by civil, regional and international conflicts, social divisions and inequalities, it is essential to undertake a constructive and creative dialogue based on honesty and truth, with the aim of fostering greater fraternal solidarity among individuals and within the global community".

Let's hope that the diplomatic debates on interreligious dialogue at the United Nations in 2020 will be inspired by these humanistic requirements.