In October 2000, the staff of IRFF contributed to the work of a conference at the United Nations which was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations, and Co-sponsored by the "Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace" (IIFWP), and the "World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations" (WANGO). The section in which IRFF felt that it could contribute the most was on the theme of "Value and Public Service". This theme was well presented at the conference by the Vice-president of IRFF, Dr.Kathy Winings. Details at http://www.iifwp.org/Activities/2000/Response.shtml

The work of the conference focused on responding to what was adopted by the UN in their Millennium Declaration. This Declaration listed eight points:

1. Values and principles.
2. Peace, security and disarmament.
3. Development and poverty eradication.
4. Protecting our common environment.
5. Human rights, democracy and good governance.
6. Protecting the vulnerable.
7. Meeting the special needs of Africa.
8. Strengthening the United Nations.

The response of our Conference was to add to the Declaration these topics:

• Character education.
• The family.
• The value of interfaith
• The role of NGO's
• The concept of a sacrificial way of life

Following this event, a series of conferences were held around the world, from Washington to Nairobi, from Majuro to Berlin. The purpose was to gather people from all quarters of life to discuss and get support for the above topics.

The hope of IRFF in contributing to this work is that by those events and networking, a new force can be realized among policy makers, religious leaders and civic society leaders. This new force can build a substantial common ground for the fulfillment and realizations of world Peace.

 

Details at: http://iifwp.org/Activities/2000/Response.shtml

UN Millennium Assembly Website: http://www.un.org/millennium

   

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