Ninety religious youth leaders from the Religions for Peace Asia and Pacific Youth Network representing Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Zoroastrian and indigenous communities from sixteen Asian countries gathering in hope and pledging common action believe there is, if we act together now as peacemakers.
They will engage with other key stakeholders including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Philippine government and Filipino youth in this first ever international youth gathering since the escalation of violence in August 2008.
Co-convened by the World Conference of Religions for Peace, the world's largest coalition of religious communities dedicated to inter-religious cooperation for conflict transformation, peace building and sustainable development, the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP), the Religions for Peace regional body in Asia, and the Religions for Peace Philippines Youth Network the Summit of Religious Youth Leaders will be held in Davao, Philippines (Mindanao) from 12-14th October 2008.
The root causes of the conflict in Mindanao is not unique to the Philippines, and can be found in all parts of the world. Ethnic and religious conflict is on the rise, and left unchecked threatens our shared security.
The process of marginalization of the political, economic, cultural and religious identities needs to be exposed and over-turned. Religious youth leaders are convinced that we need to confront this challenge and become peacemakers now. All parties must return to the path for peace before they stray too far off course and lose their way back. The youth hope to inspire a renewed dedication to returning to the negotiation table by the Philippine government and the MILF.
The international community is paying close attention to the humanitarian crisis in Mindanao of the almost half million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and others affected by the current conflict, and plan to witness this first hand the situation of those affected by the conflict and other concerns in Mindanao.Prospects for the Summit are high as delegates will have a chance to engage all parties to the conflict in a multi-religious atmosphere.
Religions for Peace has been engaged in various peaceinitiatives in Mindanao over its history. Its first act of concern for the conflict in Mindanao started as early as 1977 during Martial Law when Religions for Peace made a detailed report and circulated globally.
Most recently, senior leaders representing Religions for Peace led by Rev. Kyoichi Sugino and its Asian regional affiliate, ACRP led by Ms. Lourdes Mastura met in April 2008 with the Chairman, Ebrahim Al-Hajj Murad of the MILF Executive Committee.
Archbishop Fernando Capalla and Bishop Hilario Gomez of the Bishops Ulama Conference (BUC) were invited by Religions for Peace to join the delegation to Cotabato City, Mindanao. The meeting resulted with the Chairman of the MILF and Office of the Presidential Advisor to the Peace Process (OPAPP) welcoming the initiative taken by Religions for Peace in the facilitation and mediation in transforming conflict in Mindanao.
The Religions for Peace Asia and Pacific Youth Network and the Religions for Peace Philippines Youth Network have led multi-religious conflict transformation initiatives in Asia and in the Philippines.
At the last Religions for Peace sponsored Summit of Asian Religious Youth Leaders held in Singapore in September 2007, delegates created the "Peace Appeal for Mindanao," focusing on the importance of solidarity and made a call for peace talks capable of generating real and lasting solutions.
These sentiments were also voiced at the National Youth Leaders Interfaith Cooperation Conference sponsored by Religions for Peace Philippines Youth Network, in which multi-religious youth leaders discussed possible solutions to the conflict in Mindanao.
Rejecting the notion that the conflict in Mindanao is a result of religious differences, a multi-religious delegation of Asian youth leaders, in solidarity with the youth leaders working in Mindanao for peace, human rights, environment and ancestral land and culture, are reaffirming the socially transforming power of multi-religious youth for peace and development with justice.
They will share with one another experiences in multi-religious action and advocacy from different parts of Asia and develop a pan-Asian multi-religious statement of commitment and concrete action plan to present to the Philippine government, and other relevant stakeholders in the Mindanao peace process.
The outcomes of the Summit will be highlighted in the senior religious leaders gathering in Manila, Philippines from October 17-21, bringing the voice of youth and the situation in Mindanao to 300 participants of the ACRP General Assembly and the President of the Philippines.
Religions for Peace is headquartered in New York and accredited to the United Nations, Religions for Peace works through affiliated inter-religious councils in 70 countries in six continents. With nearly 40 years of experience in religious diplomacy, Religions for Peace engages religious communities'unique spiritual, moral and social assets to transform conflict and advance peace. In situations of conflict such as Bosnia and Sierra Leone, its affiliated inter-religious councils have played a central role in mediation, negotiation and post-conflict reconciliation.
The Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP), the regional sister of Religions for Peace, is committed to promoting reconciliation amidst conflict and misunderstanding and pursue the path of peace according to the demands and challenges of the profound diverse spiritualities and unique Asian identities.
Religions for Peace Philippines Youth Network, the youth arm of the Religions for Peace Philippines, is an alliance of various faith and culture based national youth organizations that promote the culture of dialogue and advocacy for genuine peace through mutual understanding and cooperation, educational campaign, awareness building, issue campaigns and advocacy, humanitarian missions and active cooperation to various stake holders of peace.www.religionsforpeace.org
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