11

UPF’s Work with UPF’s Work with the United Nationsthe United Nations

22

UPF’s Core ObjectivesUPF’s Core Objectives

Renewal of the United NationsRenewal of the United Nations Partnerships among governments, Partnerships among governments,

religions, and civil society fostering religions, and civil society fostering

development grounded in universal development grounded in universal

valuesvalues A culture of peaceA culture of peace A framework for interreligious A framework for interreligious

cooperationcooperation

33

UPF’s Consultative UPF’s Consultative StatusStatus

The Interreligious and International

Federation for World Peace (UPF) was

granted Special Consultative Status with

the United Nations Economic and Social

Council on July 23, 2004.

44

UPF’s Office of UN UPF’s Office of UN RelationsRelations

Submits reports

to the UN

Secretary-General

Submits reports

to the Member-

States

55

The world must teach its children the wisdom of all cultures.

Dr. Musa Bin Jaafar Bin Hassan (L)

President, UNESCO General Conference

UN Diplomats at International UN Diplomats at International Leadership ConferencesLeadership Conferences

66

Observing Peace Initiatives

Members of UN delegations were part of a Middle East Peace Initiative trip.

77

Working for UN Renewal

88

Hopes on the Eve of Signing the UN Charter

There were many who doubted that agreement could ever be reached by ... countries differing so much in race and religion, in language and culture…. If we had had this charter a few years ago—and, above all, the will to use it—millions now dead would be alive. If we should falter in the future in our will to use it, millions now living will surely die.

Harry TrumanHarry Truman

US President, June 25, 1945US President, June 25, 1945

99

Preamble to the UN Charter

We the peoples of the United Nations determined, to save to save succeeding generations from the succeeding generations from the scourge of warscourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind.…

1010

The Ongoing Scourge of War

Despite tremendous efforts to save to save succeeding generations from the succeeding generations from the scourge of warscourge of war, history recalls

The Korean War (1950-53)The Vietnam War (1959-75)The Kosovo War (1991-96)And many more

1111

Call for UN RenewalCall for UN Renewal

We must supplement formal We must supplement formal institutions with informal policy institutions with informal policy networks, bringing together networks, bringing together international institutions, civil society international institutions, civil society and private-sector organizations, and and private-sector organizations, and national governments, in pursuit of national governments, in pursuit of common goals.common goals.

Kofi AnnanKofi Annan

former UN Secretary-Generalformer UN Secretary-General

““We the Peoples,” April 3, 2000 We the Peoples,” April 3, 2000

1212

Call for UN RenewalCall for UN Renewal

The time has come for the United The time has come for the United Nations to outline its working Nations to outline its working relationship with civil society relationship with civil society organizations.organizations.

H.E. Anwarul K. ChowdhuryH.E. Anwarul K. Chowdhury

former UN Undersecretary-Generalformer UN Undersecretary-General

1313

Call for UN RenewalCall for UN RenewalWorld peace can be fully World peace can be fully accomplished only when the accomplished only when the wisdom and efforts of the wisdom and efforts of the world's religious leaders work world's religious leaders work cooperatively and respectfully cooperatively and respectfully with national leaders.with national leaders.

Serious consideration should be Serious consideration should be given to forming a religious given to forming a religious assembly or council of religious assembly or council of religious representatives within the representatives within the structure of the UN.structure of the UN.

Rev. Sun Myung MoonRev. Sun Myung Moon

Address at UN Address at UN HeadquartersHeadquarters

August 18, 2000August 18, 2000

1414

Need for a Formal UN Need for a Formal UN BodyBody

Ambassadors and diplomats have their Ambassadors and diplomats have their

own spiritual values. own spiritual values.

However, we need an institutionalized However, we need an institutionalized

body within the United Nations to bring body within the United Nations to bring

spiritual values formally to UN spiritual values formally to UN

discourse.discourse.

1515

Value of Religious Value of Religious TeachingTeaching

All religions teach compassion, love for All religions teach compassion, love for

one another, and consideration for one another, and consideration for

those in need.those in need.

All religions have the power to end the All religions have the power to end the

cycles of resentment and violence, cycles of resentment and violence,

bringing about true reconciliation.bringing about true reconciliation.

1616

CompassionCompassion

All men are responsible for one another.All men are responsible for one another.

Talmud, Sanhedrin 27b (Judaism)Talmud, Sanhedrin 27b (Judaism) Give and it will be given to you. Give and it will be given to you.

Luke 6.38 (Christianity)Luke 6.38 (Christianity) All [human] creatures are God’s children, and those All [human] creatures are God’s children, and those

dearest to God are those who treat His children kindly. dearest to God are those who treat His children kindly.

Hadith of Baihaqi (Islam)Hadith of Baihaqi (Islam) The Great Compassionate Heart is the essence of The Great Compassionate Heart is the essence of

Buddhahood. Buddhahood.

Gandavyuha Sutra (Buddhism)Gandavyuha Sutra (Buddhism)

1717

Love for the EnemyLove for the Enemy

Love your enemies and pray for those who Love your enemies and pray for those who

persecute you, so that you may be sons of persecute you, so that you may be sons of

your Father who is in heaven. your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5.43-48 (Christianity)Matthew 5.43-48 (Christianity)

The good deed and the evil are not alike. The good deed and the evil are not alike.

Repel the evil deed with one which is better, Repel the evil deed with one which is better,

then lo! He with whom you had enmity shall then lo! He with whom you had enmity shall

become a bosom friend.become a bosom friend.Qur’an 41.34 (Islam)Qur’an 41.34 (Islam)

1818

Love for the EnemyLove for the Enemy

Aid an enemy before you aid a friend, to Aid an enemy before you aid a friend, to

subdue hatred.subdue hatred. Tosefta, Baba Metzia 2.26 (Judaism)Tosefta, Baba Metzia 2.26 (Judaism)

Hatreds never cease through hatred in this Hatreds never cease through hatred in this

world; through love alone they cease. world; through love alone they cease. Dhammapada 3-5 (Buddhism)Dhammapada 3-5 (Buddhism)

Do good to him who has done you an Do good to him who has done you an

injury. injury. Tao Te Ching 63 (Taoism)Tao Te Ching 63 (Taoism)

1919

Mahatma Mahatma GandhiGandhi

Dr. Martin Dr. Martin Luther King, Luther King,

Jr. Jr.

MotherMother Teresa Teresa

2020

Interreligious Voices Interreligious Voices ContributeContribute

to UPF Deliberations to UPF Deliberations

2121

Religion Contributes to Religion Contributes to Peace Peace

The negotiations between Menachem Begin, Anwar el-Sadat, and myself at Camp David in 1978 were greatly influenced by our religious backgrounds. This was evident in the fact that a joint appeal for prayer preceded our discussions… Begin and Sadat were deeply religious men.

Jimmy Jimmy Carter Carter

Former President of the USFormer President of the US

2222

UN General Assembly UN General Assembly Resolutions Resolutions

““Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue” Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue” (A/RES/59/23, November 2004)(A/RES/59/23, November 2004)

““Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue and Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue and

Cooperation for Peace” Cooperation for Peace” (A/RES/60/10, Oct. 2005)(A/RES/60/10, Oct. 2005)

““Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural

Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation

for Peace” for Peace” (A/RES/60/L.11/Rev.2, December 2006)(A/RES/60/L.11/Rev.2, December 2006)

2323

Sponsoring NationsSponsoring NationsSpearheaded by the PhilippinesSpearheaded by the Philippines

Sponsored bySponsored by

AzerbaijanAzerbaijanBangladeshBangladeshBelarusBelarusBelizeBelizeBeninBeninBurkina Burkina FasoFasoCambodiaCambodiaCameroonCameroonComorosComorosCongoCongoCosta RicaCosta RicaDjibouti Djibouti

DominicanDominican RepublicRepublicEgypt Egypt El Salvador El Salvador Gabon Gabon Gambia Gambia Guatemala Guatemala Guinea Guinea Haiti Haiti Honduras Honduras Indonesia Indonesia Iran Iran KazakhstanKazakhstanKuwait Kuwait

Philippines Philippines Qatar Qatar Russian Russian Federation Federation Saint VincentSaint Vincent and the and the Grenadines Grenadines Senegal Senegal Sudan Sudan Suriname Suriname Tajikistan Tajikistan Thailand Thailand Timor-Leste Timor-Leste UzbekistanUzbekistan

Madagascar Madagascar Malaysia Malaysia Marshall Marshall Islands Islands Micronesia Micronesia Mongolia Mongolia Morocco Morocco Myanmar Myanmar Nicaragua Nicaragua OmanOmanPakistanPakistanPanamaPanamaPapua NewPapua New GuineaGuinea

2424

Focal Unit to Aid DialogueFocal Unit to Aid Dialogue

……insures the systematic and insures the systematic and organizational follow-up of this organizational follow-up of this dialogue through the designation dialogue through the designation of a focal unit in the Secretariat to of a focal unit in the Secretariat to handle these matters.handle these matters.

December 2006 GA ResolutionDecember 2006 GA Resolution

RESULT: Focal unit was established in 2007.RESULT: Focal unit was established in 2007.

2525

Call for High-Level DialogueCall for High-Level Dialogue

Call for convening a Call for convening a “high-level dialogue on “high-level dialogue on

interreligious and intercultural cooperation for the interreligious and intercultural cooperation for the

promotion of tolerance, understanding and promotion of tolerance, understanding and

universal respect on matters of freedom of religion universal respect on matters of freedom of religion

or belief and cultural diversity, in coordination with or belief and cultural diversity, in coordination with

other similar initiatives in this area.”other similar initiatives in this area.” RESULT: a High-level Dialogue on Interreligious and

Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for

Peace was held October 4-5, 2007.

2626

Address to High-Level DialogueAddress to High-Level Dialogue

In today’s era of global travel and instant satellite transmissions, people everywhere are encountering less of the familiar, and more of ‘the other.’ This reality has fed rising intercultural and inter-religious tensions, as well as growing alienation among vast segments of the world population.

Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moon

UN Secretary-GeneralUN Secretary-General

2727

Address to High-Level DialogueAddress to High-Level Dialogue

It is time to promote the idea that diversity is a virtue, not a threat. It is time to explain that different religions, belief systems and cultural backgrounds are essential to the richness of the human experience. And it is time to stress that our common humanity is greater-–far greater-–than our outward differences.

Ban Ki-Ban Ki-moonmoon

UN Secretary-GeneralUN Secretary-General

2828

Address to High-Level DialogueAddress to High-Level Dialogue

Today’s gathering also comes at a particularly auspicious time, as Jews mark the celebration of the Torah and Muslims approach the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Such occasions remind us that men and women of faith around the world can be brought together, rather than separated, by their convictions and their belief in something greater than themselves.

Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moonUN Secretary-GeneralUN Secretary-General

2929

An Idea Whose Time Has An Idea Whose Time Has ComeCome

We believe the creation of an We believe the creation of an interreligious council or a specific interreligious council or a specific unit on interfaith understanding unit on interfaith understanding within the UN system is an idea within the UN system is an idea whose time has come.whose time has come.

Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr. Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr. Former Speaker of the House of RepresentativesFormer Speaker of the House of Representatives

PhilippinesPhilippines

3030

Your Support Is Needed.Your Support Is Needed.

Create committees promoting an Interreligious

Council at the United Nations.

Invite broad participation Religious leaders Political leaders Scholars Journalists

NGO leaders

Submit proposals to parliaments and heads of

state.