The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions
THE CONGRESS OF LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS: HISTORY AND CHRONICLE
Origins of Congress:
For the first time, the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was convened on September 23-24, 2003 by the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbayev.
At the International Conference of Peace and Harmony on February 13, 2003, where representatives of Christian, Muslim, Jewish organizations took part, N.Nazarbayev presented to representatives of all faiths an initiative to hold the Congress of Leaders of World and traditional religions in Kazakhstan.
Objectives of the Congress:
Search for common human landmarks in world and traditional forms of religions;
Functioning of a permanent international interfaith institution for the dialogue of religions and the adoption of agreed decisions.
Main priorities of the Congress:
The establishment of peace, harmony and tolerance as the principles of human existence;
Achieving mutual respect and tolerance between religions, confessions, nations and ethnic groups;
Preventing the use of religious feelings of people for the escalation of conflicts and hostilities.
Congress objectives:
Strengthening the traditions of inter-religious and inter-confessional dialogue in the form of inter-religious congresses;
Cooperation and interaction with all international organizations and structures aimed at promoting dialogue between religions, cultures and civilizations;
Expanding the dialogue between representatives of different cultures and religions with the involvement of representatives of secular and religious media, youth associations, scientific and creative intellectuals;
Deepening and strengthening mutual understanding and respect among religious communities;
Development of a culture of tolerance and mutual respect as a counterbalance to the ideology of hatred and extremism;
Preventing the prevalence of theses about the "clash of civilizations", expressed in the opposition of religions and the further politicization of theological disputes, as well as attempts to discredit one religion by another;
Chronology of Congress:
The seven Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, held in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2022 were attended by leaders and prominent representatives from Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Taoism and other traditional religions.
At the dialogue platforms of the Congress, a rich and constructive conversation is held on the spiritual rapprochement of religious communities, as a result of which joint final documents of the interreligious summit were adopted - Declarations and Appeals addressed to citizens, peoples and governments of the countries of the world.
On September 23-24, 2003, the First Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was held in Astana.
The Forum was attended by 17 delegations from 13 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
During the First Congress, the participants decided to hold an interreligious summit on a regular basis and created a working group – the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The results of the interreligious summit, the final document was adopted – the Declaration of the participants of the First Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
After the completion of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, a prayer service was held at the Bayterek Monument, which was attended by all delegations and guests of the summit.
On September 12-13, 2006, Astana hosted the Second Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The Congress was held in a new building specially built for the forum – the Palace of Peace and Harmony.
The interreligious summit was attended by 43 delegations – representatives of world and traditional religions and honorary guests from 20 countries of Europe, America, Asia and Africa.
Agenda of the Second Congress was "Religion, society and international security".
On the first day of the Congress, a document was adopted "Principles of interreligious dialogue".
The results of the Congress was adopted in the Declaration of the Second Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
On July 1-2, 2009, the Third Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was held in Astana.
The Congress was attended by 77 delegations from 35 countries of the world.
Agenda of the Third Congress «The role of religious leaders in creating peace, tolerance-based on mutual respect and cooperation».
The First President of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbayev, speaking at this summit, made a proposal to create a Council of Religious Leaders, which was supported by all participants of the Congress.
The Council's activities aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation with other authoritative forums and international organizations.
The results of the forum was adopted in the Appeal of the participants of the Third Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
On May 30-31, 2012, Astana hosted the Fourth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The Congress was attended by 85 delegations from 40 countries representing all of the world and traditional religions, as well as authoritative religious and international organizations.
Agenda of the Fourth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions: "Peace and harmony as a choice of humanity".
As part of the interreligious summit, the first meeting of the Council of Religious Leaders was held.
The Council included 17 representatives of world religions.
The results of the interreligious summit, was adopted in the final document - Address of the participants of the Fourth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
Members of the Council of Religious Leaders and participants of the Congress participated in the laying of the Alley of Spiritual Accord «Rukhani Zharasym» and attended the opening of the «Monument to the Victims of Famine» in Astana, founded in memory of the victims of the famine of 1932-1933, visited the Museum and Memorial complex "Algeria", where a joint prayer service of all participants of the Congress.
On June 10-11, 2015, Astana hosted the Fifth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The Congress was attended by 72 delegations from 49 countries representing all world and traditional religions, as well as authoritative religious leaders, politicians and international organizations.
Agenda of the Fifth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions: «Religious Leaders and Politicians for Peace and Development».
During the Congress, four plenary and breakout sessions took place:
Sessions № 1: «Religious and Political Leaders: Responsibility to Humanity».
Sessions № 2: «The Influence of Religion on Youth: Education, Science, Culture and the Media».
Sessions № 3: « Religion and Politics: New Trends and Prospects ».
Sessions № 4: « Dialogue Based on Mutual Respect and Understanding between the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for the Sake of Peace, Security and Harmony».
The Congress was attended by well-known political leaders and authoritative public figures, including King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, President of Finland Sauli Niinistö, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The first President of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbayev, on his speech at the closing ceremony of the Fifth Congress, initiated the creation of the Museum of Peace and Harmony, organization of the Astana International Award for Contribution to Interreligious Dialogue and the Medal of Honor of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
As a result of the summit, the final document was adopted – the Astana Declaration of the participants of the Fifth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
On October 10-11, Astana hosted the Sixth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The Congress was attended by 82 delegations from 43 countries including: Austria, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Brazil, Vatican, Great Britain, Georgia, Egypt, Israel, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Iran, Italy, Qatar, China, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Russia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malta, United States of America, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Finland, France, Croatia, Switzerland, South Africa, South Korea, Japan.
The VI Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was also attended for the first time by delegations from the partner countries of the Congress - Vietnam, Germany, Serbia, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.
The delegations included leaders and representatives of world and traditional religions, authoritative political figures and heads of major international organizations.
Agenda of the Sixth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions: «Religious leaders for a safe world».
Within the framework of the Congress, Third session of the Council of Religious Leaders.
During the Congress, four plenary and breakout sessions took place:
Sessions № 1: Manifesto “The world. the 21st century” as a concept of global security».
Sessions № 2: «Religions in changing geopolitics: new opportunities for the consolidation of humanity».
Sessions № 3: «Religion and globalization: challenges and answers».
Sessions № 4: «Religious leaders and politicians in overcoming extremism and terrorism».
Interaction of the Congress:
Authoritative international organizations are showing great interest in the activities of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions: the United Nations, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, UNESCO, the World Islamic League (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), the Community of St. Egidio (Italy), the House of Asia (Spain), the Tony Blair Foundation (Great Britain), as well as the Interreligious Council of the CIS, The Conference "Religions for Peace", the World Council of Churches, the Doha International Center for Interreligious Dialogue and others.
September 14-15, 2022 in Astana hosted The VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The Congress was attended by 100 delegations from 50 countries
Agenda of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions: «The role of leaders of world and traditional religions in the spiritual and social development of humanity in the post-pandemic period»
Topics of the breakout sessions of the VII Congress:
Sessions № 1: «The role of religions in strengthening spiritual and moral values in contemporary world».
Sessions № 2: «The role of education and religious enlightenment in strengthening the respectful coexistence of religions and cultures, justice and peace».
Sessions № 3: «The contribution of religious leaders and politicians to the formation of global inter-religious dialogue and peace, countering extremism, radicalism and terrorism, particularly religiously motivated».
Sessions № 4: «The contribution of women to well-being and sustainable development of society and the role of religious communities in supporting the social status of women».
The Congress was attended by representatives of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Shintoism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism and other religions.
The Seventh Congress was attended by Pope Francis, as well as delegations of leading religious organizations and representatives of states
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SECRETARIAT OF THE CONGRESS OF LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS
The Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is the working agency of the Congress (The Secretariat was established by the decision of the participants of the First Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held on September 23-24, 2003, in Astana).
The Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan is the Head of the Secretariat.
The Secretariat includes representatives from the leaders of world religions participating in the Congress, such as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, Hinduism, as well as international organisations.
The Secretariat meets annually to address:
- Implementing decisions from the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions
- Preparing for Congress sessions
- The global agenda, work regulations, and drafting final documents of the Congress (Declarations)
- Coordinating interactions with international structures on issues of interfaith and inter-civilizational dialogue.
In the face of contemporary global challenges and erosion of the international security architecture, Kazakhstan continues to promote the role of religion in the rapprochement of different civilizations, cultures and peoples.
Kazakhstan also shares and promotes its experience globally, as reflected in the idea to convene the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
For two decades, since the inaugural Congress in September 2003, this distinctive institution has served as a beacon of national consensus and unity, presented by Kazakhstan to the global community. The seven Congresses held in Astana between 2003 and 2022 have significantly fostered mutual comprehension between Eastern and Western civilizations and bolstered inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogues.
Owing to its dedication to peace and global engagements, Kazakhstan has earned its place on the international stage as a pivotal hub for inter-faith dialogue. Over two decades, the Congress has exhibited consistent institutional growth. It prides itself on a varied agenda, an innovative participation format, and adaptability in political dynamics. With an increasing participant count and a continually diversifying agenda, the Congress's program has substantially broadened to encompass not just plenary sessions, but also multiple parallel breakout sessions.
Acting as the operational arm of the Congress, the Secretariat coordinates its meetings, crafts agendas, and drafts Declarations, Appeals, and other key conceptual documents ratified at the Congress.