DECLARATION OF VII CONGRESS OF THE LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS

DECLARATION OF VII CONGRESS OF THE LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS

We, the participants of the VII Congress - spiritual leaders of world and traditional religions, politicians, heads of international organizations,

guidedby our shared desire for ajust, peaceful, secure and prosperous world,

affirmingthe importance ofshared valuesin the spiritual and social development of humankind,

recognizingthenecessity of countering and overcomingintolerance and hate speech, xenophobia, discrimination and conflicts based on ethnic, religious and cultural differences,

respectingtherichness of religious and cultural diversity,

realizingthat acts of charity, compassion, mercy, justice and solidarity contribute to the rapprochement of peoples and societies,

recognizingthe value of education and spiritualityfor personal and interreligious development

affirmingthe importance of therole and rights of womenin society,

statingthat material inequality leads to discontent, social tension, conflict and crisis in our world,

recognizingthe importance of addressingglobal challenges in our post-pandemic world,including climate change, poverty and hunger; organized crime, terrorism, and drugs,

condemningin the strongest terms theextremism, radicalism and terrorismwhich lead to religious persecution and the undermining of human life and dignity,

condemningthe creation ofhotspotsof interstate and international tension in the world,

expressingserious concern about the global increase in the number ofmigrants and refugeesin need of humanitarian assistance and protection,

expressinga firm desire to contribute to the creation of conditions fordialogue and reconciliationbetween conflicting parties,

realizingthe urgent necessity forspiritual and political leadersto work together in addressing the challenges of our world,

welcomingall international, regional, national and local initiatives, especially the efforts ofreligious leadersto promote interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue,

expressingthe intention to intensifycooperationbetween religious communities, international, national and public institutions, and non-governmental organizations in the post-pandemic period,

reaffirmingthe work of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions as aninternational interreligious dialogue platformfor representatives of many religions, confessions and creeds,

pointing outthe opportunity of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for takingfurther specific stepsto expand interreligious intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue,

 

  • HAVE COME TO A COMMON POSITION AND DECLARE THE FOLLOWING:

 

  1. We will make every effortto ensure that the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions continues its regular activities for the benefit of peace and dialogue between religions, cultures and civilizations.
  2. We declarethat in the conditions of post-pandemic world development and the globalization of processes and security threats, the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions plays an important role in the implementation ofjoint efforts to strengthen dialoguein the name of peace and cooperation, as well as the promotion of spiritual and moral values.
  3. We recognizethat thenegative consequences of pandemic diseasecan be overcome only throughjoint effort,working together and helping each other.
  4. We are convincedthat theunleashing of any military conflict,creating hotspots of tension and confrontation, causeschain reactionswhich impair international relations.
  5. We believethatextremism, radicalism, terrorismand all other forms of violence and wars, whatever their motivations and goals, have nothing to do with authentic religion and must be rejected in the strongest possible terms.
  6. We strongly urgenational governmentsand authorized international organizations to provide comprehensive assistance to all religious groups and ethnic communities that have been subjected to infringement of rights and violence by extremists and terrorists and as a result of wars and military conflicts.
  7. We callupon world leaders to abandon allaggressive and destructive rhetoricwhich leads to destabilization of the world, and to cease from conflict and bloodshed in all corners of our world.
  8. We callupon religious leaders and prominent political figures from different parts of the world tirelessly todevelop dialoguein the name of friendship, solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
  9. We advocatetheactive involvementof the leaders of world and traditional religions and prominent political figures in the process of conflict resolutionfor achieving long-term stability.
  10. We notethatpluralismin terms of differences in skin color, gender, race, language and culture are expressions of the wisdom of God in creation. Religious diversity is permitted by God and, therefore, any coercion to a particular religion and religious doctrine is unacceptable.
  11. We callfor the support ofpractical initiativesto implement interreligious and interdenominational dialogue, for the sake of building social justice and solidarity for all peoples.
  12. We stand in solidaritywith theefforts of the United Nationsand all other international, governmental and regional institutions and organizations, promoting dialogue among civilizations and religions, states and nations.
  13. We recognizethe importance and value of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together between the Holy See and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif(adopted by the UN General Assembly in resolution A/RES/75/200 of December 21, 2020),and the Makkah Declaration (adopted in Mecca in May 2019), which call for peace, dialogue, mutual understanding and mutual respect among believers for the common good.
  14. We welcomethe progress made by the global community in the fields of science, technology, medicine, industry and other areas yet note theimportance of their harmonization with spiritual, social and human values.
  15. We realizethatsocial problemsoften push people to extreme attitudes and actions and call on all states of the world to ensure adequate living conditions for their citizens.
  16. We notehow people and societies which dismiss the importance ofspiritual values and moral guidelinesare susceptible to lose their humanity and creativity.
  17. We callon world political and business leaders to focus onovercoming the imbalancesin the development of modern societies and to reduce the gap in the well-being of different segments of the population and different countries of the world.
  18. We notethe positive impact of dialogue between leaders of world and traditional religions for socio-political processes in states and societies, contributing to the preservation of peace.
  19. We proceedfrom the immutable fact thatthe Almighty created all people equal,regardless of their racial, religious, ethnic or other affiliation or social status, therefore respect for each other and mutual understanding underpin all religious teaching.
  20. We callon political and public figures, journalists and bloggers, while recognizing their freedom of speech, tobeware religious generalizationand not to identify extremism and terrorism with any nation or religion, as well as not to use religions for political purposes.
  21. We advocateincreasing the role of education and religious formation,particularly among youth, in strengthening the respectful coexistence of religions and cultures and debunking dangerous pseudo-religious prejudices.
  22. We payspecial attention to the importance of strengthening theinstitution of the family.
  23. We standfor the protection of thedignity and rights of women, the improvement of their social status as equal members in family and society, as well as encourage their inclusion in the peace processes in cultural and religious settings.
  24. We notethe inevitability ofglobal digital development,as well as the importance of the role of religious and spiritual leaders in interacting with politicians in solving the problems of digital inequality.
  25. While we respect the freedom of expression,we strive to develop adialogue with the media and other institutions of societyto clarify the significance of religious values for promoting religious knowledge, interreligious harmony and civil peace, as well as to develop general tolerance towards religions.
  26. We appeal toall people of faith and goodwill tounitein this difficult time and contribute to ensuring security and harmony in our common home – planet Earth.
  27. We turnto prayin support of all people of goodwill on the planet who make a significant contribution to the expansion of inter-civilizational, interreligious and international dialogue for the sake of a more prosperous world.
  28. We callfor supportingacts of mercy and compassionin regions affected by military conflict, and by both natural and man-made disasters.
  29. We callfor solidarity in the support of international organizations and national governments in their efforts to overcome the consequences of theCovid pandemic.
  30. We affirmthat thepurposes of the Congress and this Declaration is to guide contemporary and future generations of humankindin promoting a culture of mutual respect and peacefulness; available for use in public administration of any country in the world, as well as by international organizations, including UN institutions.
  31. We instructthe Secretariat of the Congress to develop aConcept for the development of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religionsas a global interreligious dialogue platform for 2023-2033.
  32. We affirmtherole of the Republic of Kazakhstanas an authoritative and global center of intercivilizational, interreligious and interfaith dialogue.
  33. We thanktheRepublic of Kazakhstan and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayevfor convening the VII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, for their humanitarian initiatives, and for their contribution to renewal and progress, peace and harmony.
  34. We thank the Republic of Kazakhstan forthe excellent organization of the Congress,and to the Kazakh people for their cordiality and hospitality.
  35. We confirmour collective interest in continuing the activities of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and ourintention to convene the next VIII Congress in 2025 in the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan.

 

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This Declarationwas adopted bythe majority of delegates of the VII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and isbeing transmittedto the authorities, political leaders and religious figures around the world, relevant regional and international organizations, civil society organizations, religious associations and leading experts. It will also be distributed as an official document of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

The principles contained in the current Declaration can be disseminated at all regional and international levels, for consideration in all political decisions, legislative norms, educational programs, and mass media in all interested countries.

 

MAY OUR ASPIRATIONS BE BLESSED

AND MAY PEACE AND PROSPERITY

BE GRANTED TO ALL PEOPLES AND COUNTRIES!

 

 

THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

NUR-SULTAN

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022