The CIVICUS World Assembly gathers civil society organisations, donors and representatives of government, international institutions and business from around the world. to seek collaborative ways to strengthen the rights of citizens everywhere to exist, express and engage collectively. The 2011 Assembly, in Montreal, Canada from 10-12 September, focused on the role of civil society in global decision-making.
At a September 11, 2011 workshop on Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in Global Decision-Making and Social Transformation, panelists from faith-based organizations, academics, and UN representatives discussed the deep and yet under-explored interaction of religion and religious groups with international institutions. Thomas Uthup, Research and Education Manager for the UN Alliance of Civilizations, made a presentation on “Bringing Religion to the Global Table: The Role of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.”