On June 18, 2013, the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations hosted their third annual networking lunch on interfaith cooperation for peace. Members from 44 religious, spiritual and interfaith organizations affiliated with the UN joined representatives from Member States, as well as the UN Alliance of Civilization, UNESCO and other UN agencies, at the festive gathering. The luncheon, which took place at the Church Center for the United Nations, offered the diverse assemblage a gracious setting in which to discuss their views and organizational activities, with a specific focus on the UN’s World Interfaith Harmony Week and the UN International Day of Peace.
Monica Willard, URI’s representative to the UN, organized the luncheon as her final act as President of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the UN, a position she has held for two years. “So much can be achieved through these interfaith community gatherings,” Monica affirmed. “The members look forward to coming – and so do the ambassadors and UN staff.”
In addition to Monica, other URI UN representatives in attendance were Swamini Sri Lalitambika Devi, Audrey Kitagawa, Zunaira Mubasher (youth representative from Columbia University), Deborah Moldow, and Martha Gallahue.
Under Monica’s leadership, the Committee of Religious NGOs at the UN was among the first to observe World Interfaith Harmony Week, established by the UN General Assembly as the first week of February of every year to promote harmony among people of all faith traditions. This is in keeping with the history of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the UN, which has been a living demonstration of global interfaith harmony and has anchored interfaith cooperation through regular meetings at the United Nations since 1972.
