All news

News

Religion Peace and Security

AIDLR and Seventh-day Adventists propose solutions for Religious Minorities, Refugees and Migrants to the United Nations in Geneva during the second Global Summit co-organized by AIDLR and the United Nations on Religion, Peace and Security

Religion Peace and Security

The Honorary President, the Secretary General and the President of AIDLR

[CD-EUDNews. AIDLR Communication]. Pictures C.Cozzi


The Association Internationale pour la Défense de la Liberté Religieuse (AIDLR), along with the United Nations, organised the second Global Summit on Religion, Peace and Security.  The Summit has been co-organized by H.E. Dr. Adama Dieng, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser of the United Nations, Secretary-General on Prevention of Genocide, Office of Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect; and Dr. Liviu Olteanu, Secretary-General of AIDLR.

The summit was hosted in the emblematic Room XX, the ‘Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room’, from April 29 to May 1, 2019, in the Palais des Nations of the United Nations, in Geneva.

This second worldwide Global Summit on Religion, Peace and Security, debated the topic: Building Bridges, Fostering Inclusivity and Countering Hate Speech to Enhance the Protection of Religious Minorities, Refugees and Migrants. According to H.E. Adama Dieng, “We all have the responsibility to build bridges, address hate speech, and foster inclusivity if we are really serious about leaving no one behind.”

This prestigious gathering was a follow-up to the First Global Summit, hosted in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, initiated in November 2016 by Dr. Liviu Olteanu, who is also the Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty of the Inter-European Region of the Seventh-day Adventists.

The Chairperson of the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Azza Karam, and Dr. Liviu Olteanu, proposed to the participants of the Global Summit to spend a moment of meditation and prayer. The main points of prayer were for peace and a successful outcome of the summit, and also a moment of silence in memory of all victims of violence and terrorism that has affected civilians and our brothers and sisters in humanity, such as the Jews in Pittsburg, United States; the Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand; and the Christians in Sri Lanka. It was a moment of silence for all congregations that had suffered major injury and loss of life in unprovoked terrorist attacks that took place during their time of worship.

‘Dialogue Five’ Framework.
The two Global Summits have been built on the “Dialogue Five © framework” which was researched and authored by Dr. Liviu Olteanu, and involved bringing together five influential actors: diplomats, politicians, religious leaders, academics, and civil society representatives (including media, international non-governmental organizations, etc.).

The AIDLR is an international organization founded in 1946 by Dr. Jean Nussbaum, who worked closely and received the special support of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, the first President of the Honorary Committee.
AIDLR defends and fosters human dignity, the principle of freedom of religion and conscience for all people, and human rights and peace on an international level.
According to Dr. Olteanu, the five different actors must partner with representatives at all levels including: national (Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Education and Culture), regional (such as the European Union, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the African Union, etc.) and international (United Nations and its bodies) to debate the major topics of international concern, such as the discrimination of religious minorities, refugees and migrants, the respect for differences, peace and security, etc.

AIDLR Video Presentation and Launch of Books
A video on the history of the AIDLR was presented to the United Nations’ ambassadors, the global religious leaders, the academics, and to all other participants at the second Global Summit on Religion, Peace and Security.  In the video, the AIDLR referred to the work developed by the presidents of its Honorary Committee, starting with Eleanor Roosevelt, followed by Albert Schweitzer, Réné Cassin, Edgar Faure, Paul Henry Spaak, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Mary Robinson, and leading up to the current president of Honorary Committee, Adama Dieng, current AIDLR President, Mario Brito, and Liviu Olteanu, Secretary-General.

The presentation took place in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations, Room XX, of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Three books produced by the AIDLR were launched on same day: Agents and Ambassadors for Peace (2016), The Influence of Religious Freedom on Peace and Security (2017/2018) and Diplomacy & Education for Religious Freedom, A Priority for Public Policy (2018/2019): the last two books represent the summary of the First Global Summit from 2016. A special edition of the journal Ambassadors for Liberty, Hope and Peace bringing information on the second Global Summit was also presented.
 
Award of Excellence Ceremony.
H.E. Adama Dieng, Dr. Liviu Olteanu, and Mario Brito, presented the Award of Excellence: Ambassador for Liberty and Peace - Jean Nussbaum & Eleanor Roosevelt for 2017, 2018 and 2019, to the following personalities: H.E. Mr. Michael Møller – Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Denmark/ Switzerland; H.E. Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah - President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, Mauritania/ United Arab Emirates; Rabbi Michael Melchior - Chairman of the Mosaica Center for Religious Conflict Transformation in the Middle East, Norway/Israel; Dr. Ganoune Diop – Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty at the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists and the Secretary-General of the International Religious Liberty Association, Senegal/United States; Ms. Katarzyna Gardapkhadze – First Deputy Director of the Office of Security and Cooperation, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE, Poland; Professor Li Guo Dong – Chairman of the UCT International Culture Development, the Calligraphy Artist for Peace, China/Thailand; and Dr. Kishan Manocha- Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion and Belief OSCE/ODIHR, Iran/Poland.

Structure of the Second Global Summit.
During the three days of the second Global Summit, approximately 600 people, including diplomats, politicians, religious leaders, scholars, civil society activists, lawyers, and media personalities, from across the world participated and had their say.
The debate consisted of eight parts: The opening ceremony as a high-level panel and six different panels, plus the closing session.
The panel members debated topics such as: Setting the frame - the protection of religious minorities, refugees and migrants; Protection of religious minorities, refugees and migrants; Regional and global trends; Protecting religious minorities, refugees and migrants: Political and human rights, and humanitarian challenges; Protection of refugees, migrants and religious minorities and the Sustainable Development Goals; Enhancing the protection of religious minorities, refugees and migrants. Partnership and cooperation of the ‘Dialogue Five’ Actors and Developing the Plan of Action - Plenary discussion; Reading and Approval of the Declaration/Plan of Action Commitment, and closing remarks.

Speakers during the Global Summit.
Among the world-renowned speakers were: H.E. Adama Dieng - Under-Secretary-General of the UN; H.E. Michael Møller – Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva; H.E. Michelle Bachelet - High Commissioner for Human Rights at the UN; Dr. Petru Dumitriu - United Nations Inspector; Dr. Ganoune Diop – Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, General Conference of the SDA Church, United States; Mario Brito - the AIDLR President, Switzerland; Jonathan Duffy - Director of ADRA International, United States; His Eminence Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah - President of the Forum for Promoting Peace, United Arab Emirates; Rev. Dr. Grace Chung Lee - President of Religions for Peace, South Korea; Sheikh Mohammad Al-Yaqoubi; Imam Razawi - United Nations House, UK; Rev. Bonnie Evans-Hills - InterFaith Adviser, Church of England, and many others who gave a huge contribute to the Summit.

Adventist Representation.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been very well represented at the second Global Summit on Religion, Peace and Security by: Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty at the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; Mario Brito, President of the AIDLR and President of the Inter-European Division (EUD); Jonathan Duffy, Director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International; many EUD directors such as Joao Martins, Director of ADRA Europe; Corrado Cozzi, Director of Communication; Dagmar Dorn, Director of Women’s Ministry; Elza Cozzi, Children’s Ministries Director; Rainer Wanitschek, EUD Ministerial and Family Ministries Director; Elvira Wanitschek, Shepherdess Director; Paolo Benini, Adventist Mission, Personal Ministries & Sabbath School Director; Judge Dr. Harald Mueller at Hanover Court as a delegate of German Unions; Paulo Sergio Macedo, Director of Education, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, Portugal; Ruben Guzman, Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty from Spain; Alberto Guaita, President of the Association para la Defensa de la Libertad Religiosa from Spain; Dr. Liviu Olteanu, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director; and many others members from Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, and the United States of America. Because many of them had an active role during the Global Summit, it is likely accurate to say the Adventists lead and propose solutions on worldwide religious minorities, refugees and migrants.


Preliminary Framework for a Plan of Action: Towards a Roadmap for an International Platform on Religion, Peace and Security.
During the last day of the second Global Summit and based on the proposal of the Geneva Global Declaration of Commitment presented by the AIDLR Secretary-General, a group of worldwide experts, religious leaders and diplomats, started to work on a Preliminary Framework for a Plan of Action. The Experts Committee was composed of: Dr. Liviu Olteanu - Chairperson, Dr. Ganoune Diop, Dr. Asher Maoz, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi, Dr. W. Cole Durham Jr., Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muaammar, Dr. Kyriaki Topidi, with the later addition of Simona Cruciani, Political Affairs Officer, OSAPG and Ambassador Aziza Baroud.

The group of experts started to work on proposals for “A Preliminary Framework for a Plan of Action: Towards a Roadmap for an International Platform on Religion, Peace and Security”. Participants at the Summit – diplomats, scholars, religious leaders, other experts – were also able to contribute to the Plan of Action during the plenary discussions. All proposals received for the Plan of Action will be carefully considered and evaluated over the coming days and will be consequently introduced to Member States, Religious Leaders and All Actors. The Declaration of Commitment will be published later on.

Press Conference
A press conference took place at the end of the Global Summit, with the participation of H.E. Adama Dieng and Dr. Liviu Olteanu as co-organizers. Ambassador Aziza Baroud, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Yaqoubi, Rev. Bonnie Evans-Hills, Rabbi Michael Melchior, and Dr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria were present at this press conference.

According to Dr. Liviu Olteanu, “Today, more than ever, the world needs a special focus – of all actors – in the prevention of global crises and challenges. The key to combat discrimination, hate speech and violence lies in education that influences and changes mindsets, by public awareness and high-level campaigns such as the second Global Summit, starting by training the trainers, fostering dialogue and understanding of different cultures ad religions. On the issue of human rights, development and peace, nothing of political nature happens by accident!”

But let us never forget: nothing big and special can be done by human power, but only by His Spirit and leadership. We praise the Lord for all the miracles and open doors we could see in co-organizing the second Global Summit.

Details of the Preliminary Framework for a Plan of Action: “Towards a Roadmap for an International Platform on Religion, Peace and Security”, will be sent to the media and can be checked, too, by visiting: www.aidlr.org.