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The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
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| 01.04.2005 |
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| Religious Leaders to Meet in Johannesburg for Second Inter-Faith Action for Peace Summit |
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LWF General Secretary Noko Stresses Forum’s Role in Addressing Conflict
GENEVA, 1 April 2005 (LWI) – Over 200 representatives of different faith traditions in Africa will gather April 18-25 in Benoni near Johannesburg, South Africa, to review their plan of action for religious leaders’ active engagement in conflict resolution and peace building initiatives on the continent.
The Second Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA) Summit is being coordinated by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and hosted by the National Religious Leaders Forum in South Africa (NRLFSA). Delegates, around 40 percent of whom are women, are drawn from more than 30 countries, and represent major religions including African Traditional Religion, the Baha’i faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. The theme of the summit is “Working Together for Peace in Africa.”
“Mothers and Daughters of Africa” Pre-Summit to Focus on Women’s Role in Peacemaking
The overarching goal of the Second Summit, the first three days of which will be devoted to a “Consultation of Mothers and Daughters of Africa,” will be to broaden and strengthen interfaith collaboration and action for peace in Africa. Delegates will also evaluate the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Action adopted at the first summit in October 2002, under the theme “Embracing the Gift of Peace.”
While encouraging trends and signs of peace are emerging in some parts of the continent, the prevailing potential for war and conflict in many areas, is still a matter of concern, says IFAPA convenor, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko. Flash points include Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Northern Uganda, Sierra Leone and Sudan.
Use and Abuse of Holy Scriptures
Against this backdrop, discussion topics will include the use and abuse of holy scriptures with respect to conflict; racism, religion and dialogue; the impact of conflict on children in Africa; and the threats of international terrorism and the need to focus on its root causes. Highlights from the women’s pre-summit, which will be attended by some of Africa’s First Ladies, will be presented in an official launch of “A Mother’s Cry for Reconciliation.”
The media will also play an important role not only in spreading the message and vision of the second summit, but also in active participation. A group of international and local journalists will take part in a panel discussion on the role of media in the context of interfaith action for peace. “We seek ways of working together with the media to advance the cause of peace in this continent,” Noko says.
It is further expected that this second summit shall strengthen the interfaith forum as a viable pan-African instrument in addressing the state of war and conflict in Africa, and forge appropriate mechanisms to support existing sub-regional and national interfaith structures.
In terms of both geographical and inter-religious scope, “IFAPA is a contribution to the African renaissance that we all hope and pray for,” Noko adds. (500 words)
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