United Religions Initiative-Africa and Aegis Trust concluded an agreement to establish an African Peace School.
Motivated by a shared commitment to promote a culture of peace and the prevention of religious strife and other forms of division which leads to conflict and genocide, United Religions Initiative-Africa and Aegis Trust concluded an agreement to establish an African Peace School and to work together on the Prevention of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity and to build long-term peace in post-genocide societies, and to confront the prejudice and beliefs that lead to genocide.
The partnership includes promoting value-based education, peaceful co-existence and harmony among different religions and cultures, advancing reconciliation, compassion and non-violence teaching, countering violent extremism, hate speech, radicalization and terrorism in Africa, and engaging known sports personalities to champion a culture of peace.
The partnership will also build on the work of Aegis Trust in the Central African Republic, where the organization has been contributing to the national peace building process after a conflict that was strongly driven by religious discrimination.
The agreement was signed on Friday 11 March 2016 at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda by Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Regional Director of URI-Africa & Representative of URI to the African Union Commission and United Nations office at Africa and Mr. Freddy Mutanguha, Regional Director of Aegis Trust in Africa.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Mussie Hailu said, “People of diverse religions, spiritual expressions and indigenous traditions throughout the world, established the United Religions Initiative to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings. URI is a bridge-building organization and it respects the uniqueness of each tradition, and differences of practice and belief. URI strongly believe that sharing our values and wisdom can lead us to act for the good of all. URI has 775 member organizations in 95 countries and it has NGO status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and singed agreement with the African Union Commission to contribute in the effort of making Africa a peaceful, united and prosperous continent. As members of URI throughout the world unite to build safe places for conflict resolution, healing and reconciliation it is our pleasure to work in partnership with Aegis Trust to move forward the two organizations’ common agenda.”
On behalf of Aegis Trust, Freddy Mutanguha, said: “The Aegis Trust works to predict, prevent and ultimately eliminate Genocide so that ‘Never Again’ is a reality. We are honoured to start this new partnership with United Religions Initiative – Africa to expand our regional and global programmes. By combining our experience, skills and resources, I know that our impact will be great.”
Aegis Trust is an international organization working to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity. Through education, Aegis works to build long-term peace by encouraging communities to change from mindsets of mistrust and prejudice that lead to genocide, to a position of shared responsibility for peace and stability. Aegis conducts and encourages research about how genocide comes about to improve the practice of prevention. Launched in 2000, Aegis developed from the work of the UK Holocaust Centre and has offices in London, UK and Kigali, Rwanda, where it is has been responsible for the Kigali Genocide Memorial since it opened in 2004.
The mission of the Aegis Trust is to work towards the prediction, prevention and ultimately the elimination of genocide for the benefit of mankind primarily through research, education and the dissemination of information and advice.
May Peace Prevail on Earth.
