Left to right: Mussie Hailu, Global Envoy of URI, Continental Director for URI-Africa and URI Representative to the United Nations in Nairobi; Monica Willard, URI Representative to the United Nations; Ms. Simona Cruciani, United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect; The Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian, Jr., Executive Director of URI; and H.E. Mr. Adama Dieng, Special Adviser to the Secretary General of the United Nations on the Prevention of Genocide.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2018, New York, NY, USA
United Religions Initiative (URI) and the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect have signed a partnership agreement, enhancing their working partnership at the global level to promote a culture of peace.
The agreement was signed at the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 20, 2018 by the Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian, Jr., Executive Director of URI, and H.E. Mr. Adama Dieng, Special Adviser to the Secretary General of the United Nations.
The purpose of the agreement is to provide a framework of cooperation between the two organizations in areas of common interest. The partnership agreement offers an opportunity for the two organizations to collaborate at the local, national, sub-regional, regional, and international levels to maximize implementation of the United Nations’ “Plan of Action for Religious Leaders and Actors to Prevent Incitement to Violence,” which is specifically designed to enable religious leaders to prevent and counter the violent acts that spark atrocities.
The two organizations share a commitment, as stated by the objectives in their respective charters, to promote the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of dignity, respect and equal opportunity. Motivated by this shared commitment, the organizations agree to work together:
- To collaborate on implementation of the Plan of Action
- To work together to counter hate speech and prevent instances of incitement to violence
- To promote implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 16 (concerning building peaceful, inclusive, and just societies)
Through its 952 member organizations in 107 countries across the world, URI is cultivating peaceful coexistence among different religions and cultures by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the environment.
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ABOUT THE UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE
The United Religions Initiative is the largest grassroots interfaith network in the world. It cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities. We implement our mission through local and global initiatives that build the capacity of nearly 1,000 member groups and organizations, called Cooperation Circles, in 107 countries, to engage in community action such as conflict resolution and reconciliation, environmental sustainability, education, women’s and youth programs, and advocacy for human rights.
URI holds the prestigious distinction of being a non-governmental organization (NGO) with consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and has long-standing partnerships with several other UN agencies, including the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI).
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