Dr. Azza Karam Receiving URI's Global Peacebuilder Award for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
URI Celebrates the Appointment of Professor Azza Karam as Secretary General of Religions for Peace
The world moves a step closer to peace with the outstanding appointment of Professor Azza Karam as Secretary General of Religions for Peace International. Dr. Karam is a globally respected and inspiring leader who throughout her career has brought people of all beliefs together to create peace, justice and healing in and among communities and countries throughout our world. She has provided crucial leadership in advancing partnerships between religious and interfaith organizations and the United Nations as Coordinator of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Development. Dr. Karam and UNFPA (The United Nations Population Fund), where she has served as Senior Advisor on Culture and Social Development, received the 2019 URI (United Religions Initiative) Global Peacebuilder Award at URI’s Accelerate Peace Conference in June.
Words of appreciation to Religions for Peace and congratulations to Professor Karam are pouring in from United Nations colleagues, religious leaders and from grassroots peacebuilders, including the URI global community, for whom this appointment is a concrete sign of hope in deeply a hurting world.
We congratulate Dr. Karam, express our deep gratitude to Religions for Peace, and look forward to our growing partnership working for peace and justice in the world in the years to come.
Victor Kazanjian and Audrey Kitagawa elected as Honorary Presidents of Religions for Peace International
At the 10th Global Assembly of Religions for Peace, The Rev. Victor Kazanjian, Executive Director of URI (United Religions Initiative), and Ms. Audrey Kitagawa, Chair of the Board of the Parliament of the World's Religions and longtime member of URI, were elected as Honorary Presidents of Religions for Peace International. The designation of Honorary President is bestowed upon those individuals meriting the honor by reason of their diligence and leadership in fields related to bringing peace to our world. These appointments, together with the election of Dr. Azza Karam as Secretary General of Religions for Peace, signal a new moment of cooperation among the world's interfaith organizations.