By Faye P. Velasco, PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

The Philippines has underscored the need to further broaden stakeholder participation and buy-in for interfaith dialogue initiatives at the national, regional, inter-regional and international levels.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in the country presentation at the recently concluded “Informal Discussion on Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue Initiatives and Ideas,” co-sponsored by the Philippine Mission to the United Nations, the UNESCO New York Office and the Committee on Religious NGOs at the UN, Philippines Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR) to the UN Carlos Sorreta discussed the Philippines’ resolutions at the UN General Assembly on inter-religious and intercultural dialogue under the agenda Culture of Peace.

He likewise cited the establishment of the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace at the UN which brought governments, UN agencies and religious NGOs together to discuss interfaith dialogue.

Providing a socio-historical context of the Philippine interfaith dialogue initiative, Sorreta said, “The Philippines’ own experience taught us the important lesson that dialogue must take place between diverse peoples so that peace can be achieved through greater respect, mutual respect and tolerance.”

About 90 participants from Missions, UN agencies and offices listened to the latest initiatives undertaken by UNESCO, the governments of the Philippines, New Zealand, Indonesia, the United States and Pakistan and other religious NGOs.

Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Libran N. Cabactulan described the event as an “important venue” for discussion and for moving forward interfaith dialogue initiatives on an individual or collective basis.”

“The Philippines is pleased to partner with UNESCO and the Committee on Religious NGOs on this event. The turnout has been very encouraging and the level of representation shows how the significance of interfaith dialogue to the community of nations,” Cabactulan said.

DPR of the New Zealand Mission Bernadette Cavanagh focused on domestic and regional interfaith dialogue initiatives, including its co-sponsorship of the Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue and its recent partnership with Indonesia on media literacy.

Yusra Khan, DPR of the Indonesian Mission, likewise gave a socio-cultural context to its interfaith dialogue initiatives and expressed willingness to explore other ways of strengthening its interfaith dialogue program such as its partnership with the United States.

DPR of the United States to the ECOSOC Council John Sammis reaffirmed religious freedom as a human right and stressed the importance of interfaith dialogue to the United States.

Sammis also cited ongoing partnership with Indonesia in interfaith dialogue and encouraged religious NGOs to communicate with the United States Mission on the issue.

Counsellor of the Pakistani Mission Marghoob Saleem Butt highlighted its ongoing partnership with the Philippines on the General Assembly resolution on inter-religious and intercultural dialogue.

He likewise underlined the importance of grassroots efforts and informed that in Pakistan, over 100 committees on interfaith dialogue had been established to foster greater dialogue.

Director of the UNESCO Office in New York Ambassador Philippe Kridelka, meanwhile, gave a broader perspective on dialogue between cultures and outlined a list of its programs in connection with the International Year of the Youth.

The Philippines is recognized as a global thought and action leader on interfaith dialogue, sustaining interfaith dialogues at the UN and at inter-regional and regional fora.

Broad civil society based interfaith dialogue initiatives supported by the Philippine government are part of an overall framework to achieve just and lasting peace in Mindanao.