From 7 February to 13 March, a thematic exhibition “Interfaith tolerance and harmony – the factor of stability of the modern society” runs in the International organizations reading room (room 207g).

The exhibition is dedicated to the World Interfaith Harmony Week.

Recognizing an imperative need of dialogue among different faiths and religions for the strengthening of mutual understanding, consent and cooperation among people, on 20th October, 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 65/5 on the World Interfaith Harmony Week. For the first time the world community carried out this week from 1st February till 7th February, 2011. In the further it was decided to celebrate it annually in the first week of February.

Within the framework of formation of a culture of peace and nonviolence the United Nations pays a significant attention to encouragement of interreligious dialogue and mutual understanding. Steps to interfaith harmony have already been undertaken worldwide. The United Nations highly appreciates the importance of global, regional and subregional initiatives aimed at the achievement of mutual understanding between representatives of different creeds. Among them there are the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace and the project “Common Cause”. In 2011, some actions of a similar orientation were included in the program of the World Week, and the discussion on a role of religious organizations and interfaith initiatives in the field of development, reconciliation and peacebuilding became central.

The World Interfaith Harmony Week enables to draw attention of the world community to the efforts undertaken by religious leaders, interfaith movements and separate people all over the world with the purpose of promoting mutual respect and mutual understanding among followers of various creeds and faiths. Proclaiming this Week the UN General Assembly calls all the states to distribute within the first week of February ideas of the interfaith harmony and the good will in churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other prayerful houses in homage to the good and the love of the neighbor, depending on their own religious traditions or belief.

In the context of the Week various actions will be held all over the world. Among them there will be lunches with the participation of representatives of various faiths, demonstration of films and negotiations between representatives of civil society, divisions of the United Nations Organization and other intergovernmental organizations. The most different religious organizations such as Christians, Moslems, Buddhists, Hindus and also new religious movements will be organizers of interfaith actions.

In documents on display problems and threats of religious intolerance are examined, and various ways, methods and programs for the struggle against religious extremism, violence and intolerance are offered. The important role of governments of various countries, nongovernmental and international organizations in rooting of a culture of peace, interfaith harmony, pluralism, mutual respect and peaceful co-existence is emphasized.

The exhibition presents over 60 documents of international organizations (UNO, UNESCO, the European Union etc) in Russian, English and German languages: books, periodicals, mimeographed materials of the United Nations (masthead), brochures and booklets.

The exposition includes the following thematic sections:

Interfaith tolerance – the factor of social stability.
Education of religious tolerance.
Dialogue among cultures and dialogue among civilizations – tolerance in settlement of political and social conflicts.
The culture of peace.

The exhibition will be interesting to all readers concerned in the culture of peace, cultural diversity, the issues of modern interfaith relations, the questions of tolerance in spiritual, social, cultural and religious spheres.

Useful links

Documents

Resolutions of the General Assembly:

Reports and notes of the UN Secretary General:

Documents for promoting the interfaith and intercultural understanding and the cooperation for peace

Declarations, conventions and agreements

The Astana Declaration adopted by participants of the conference of ministers теме “Common World: Progress Through Diversity” (Kazakhstan, October 17th, 2008)
The Madrid Declaration adopted by the World Conference on Dialogue organized by the Muslim World League in Madrid under the aegis of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (16th –18th July, 2008.)
The Phnom Penh Dialogue 2008 on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace and Harmony
The Declaration for Promoting Dialogue and Mutual Understanding among Religions and Civilizations (Ohrid-2007)
Declaration of the Second Congress of World and Traditional Religions (23rd –24th September, 2006, Astana, Kazakhstan)
The Bali Declaration on Building Interfaith Harmony (21st –22nd July, 2005, Bali, Indonesia)
The global agenda for dialogue among civilizations (2001)
The Declaration on the Culture of Peace and Programme of Action on the Culture of Peace (1999)
The Teheran Declaration on Dialogue among Civilizations adopted by the Islamic Symposium on Dialogue among Civilizations (1999)
The Declaration of Principles on Tolerance (1995)
The Istanbul proclamation adopted by the Istanbul Symposium dedicated to the Year for Tolerance (4th –6th October, 1995, Istanbul, Turkey)
The Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)
The Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (1981)

Interfaith tolerance and harmony – the factor of stability of the modern society

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