World Interfaith Harmony Week forum underway in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa February 28, 2023 (FBC) – The conference on the World Interfaith Harmony Week kicked off today at Nelson Mandela Hall of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa.

According to African Union (AU) the event is being held under the theme “The Role of Religious Communities in Africa: Advancing Peace, Human Dignity, Preservation of the Environment, Sustainable Development, and Freedom of Religion or Belief”.

AU stated that the event will be held under the patronage of Sahle-Work Zewde, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

It is organized by the Interreligious Council of Ethiopia in partnership with the G20 Interfaith Forum, AU-ECOSOCC, and United Religions Initiative- Africa, AU added.

AU indicated that the event brings together around 350 participants, including religious, spiritual, and traditional leaders, policymakers, diplomatic communities, government officials, representatives from the African Union and UN agencies, youth and women associations, artists, scholars, students, and various NGOs.

In her virtually delivered remarks, President Sahle-Work Zewde said religions have a crucial role in enhancing peace, unity and forbearance among peoples.

She stressed need to harness the potential of religions in building good-mannered generation.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AUC (TBC), Kesis Tagay Tadelle, Secretary General of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia and Prof W. Cole Durham, Jr. President of the G20 Interfaith Forum have also delivred keynote speeches on the event.

AU further stated that the one-day interfaith event aims at fostering mutual understanding and cooperation among people of diverse religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions. Recognizing the importance of interfaith dialogue, the event is being held in commemoration of World Interfaith Harmony Week.

For the first time, the G20 Interfaith Forum has been invited to participate in the AU’s World Interfaith Harmony Week celebrations.

The African Union first attended the G20 Summit in 2010 and seven years later, the G20 Compact with Africa (CWA) was launched.