Interfaith Harmony Week Event: “United Nations Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites: A global communications campaign”

In the context of the annual World Interfaith Harmony Week established by UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/65/5, UNAOC will organize an event entitled United Nations Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites: A global communications campaign to foster dialogue, mutual respect and understanding on Friday, 14 February from 10:00 to 1:00 in Conference Room 11.

The event will contribute to the implementation of the UN Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites and will feed into the global communications campaign recommended by the Plan.

The UN Plan of Action also recommends that 2020 World Interfaith Harmony Week be dedicated to the protection of religious sites and stresses the importance of interfaith dialogue, which can translate into enhanced respect for religious sites of different faiths and the recognition of their universality as symbols of our shared humanity, history, social fabric and traditions.

The event will consist of a panel discussion followed by an interactive dialogue that will look into the role that global youth and the global faith community can play to create connections to religious sites that can help celebrate their universality, underscore the role of individuals in protecting religious sites, and contribute to fostering dialogue, mutual respect and understanding. Building on the principles of the Plan, namely, respect, responsibility, diversity, dialogue, solidarity, standing together and staying together, the event will help identify issues and recommendations that will feed into the global communications campaign.