Tuesday, December 13, 2022 – 11:20 pm
ABU DHABI, 13th December, 2020 (WAM) — Lt. General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attended the activities of the second and closing day of the “G20 Interfaith Forum”, which was titled “Involvement of Religious Communities in Formulating the G20 Agenda and Beyond.” It was jointly organized by the Group of Twenty Religious Values Forum Association and the Religions Alliance for Societies Security.
His Highness witnessed some of the sessions and discussions at this global forum, which is being held in Abu Dhabi as part of continuous international efforts to enhance the role of leaders of religions and societies in formulating and crystallizing constructive solutions to be presented to world leaders in summits and leadership meetings. To contribute to finding solutions to the problems and challenges facing the world, such as food shortages, conflicts, refugees and climate issues, and ways to strengthen marginalized groups in societies and challenges facing sustainable development efforts.
His Highness also participated with a card in the final painting of the participants, to complete the painting “United for Influence” in an artistic message that stresses the importance of collaboration and cooperation of all societies, religious leaders and civil society institutions. To support the efforts of governments in building a bright future for the peoples of the world, so that they may enjoy peace, stability, security, construction and prosperity.
The conclusion of the forum was attended by His Excellency Ahmed bin Ali Muhammad Al-Sayegh, Minister of State, and among the participants in the conference from religious leaders around the world, His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the Emirates Council for Legal Fatwa, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, and Rabbi Pinhas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference Organization Rabbis in Europe, Felix Machado, Catholic Archbishop of India, Professor Cole Durham Jr., President of the G20 Religious Values Forum, Bhai Sahib Bhai Dr. Mohinder Singh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nishkam Siwak Jatha, Monsieur Yoannis Lahzi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Egyptian Human Fraternity, and Dr. Muhammad Al-Senussi Executive Director of the Network of International Peacemakers and Executives, Rabbi Diana Gerson, Associate Executive Vice President of the Board of Rabbis in New York, Banny Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations, His Excellency Alawi Abdurrahman Shihab, Former Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs and President’s Envoy to the Middle East and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, His Excellency Bishop Emmanuel Adamakis, Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Head of the Administration of the Alliance of Religions for the security of societies, and Dr. Mustafa Ali, director of the International Arigatou Organization.
The second day witnessed deliberation and discussion of vital topics, in which the participants exchanged visions on providing solutions to the challenges of current and future societies.
The first round table discussed the challenges and the post-COVID-19 world, the importance of strengthening international action across continents for the sake of humanity, the role of organizations to support the efforts of governments in times of crises and disasters, and the need to extend a helping hand to all those affected and poor countries to mitigate the severity of epidemics and their accompanying repercussions.
Another dialogue session discussed educational and health reforms around the world, and their positive impact on advancing comprehensive development in societies, in addition to discussing community protection and prevention.
Then the second round table discussed the agenda of the G20 Summit 2023, and a review of what is required of societies to contribute to the formulation of international constants and priorities to be on the agenda of the summit, and the views of societies and religious leaders on their common visions for optimal solutions to global challenges were discussed.
It is worth noting that the Religions Alliance for Communities Security, headquartered in Geneva, was established in 2017, with the support and initiative of the United Arab Emirates. From societal issues and emerging challenges, such as: sexual assaults on children, human trafficking, extremism and extremism, and the alliance is a platform that brings together religious communities, non-governmental organizations, experts and specialists, and this comes in recognition of the importance of the role of religious leaders at the institutional and local levels, and providing them with knowledge and resources that help them to Play their vital role in enhancing the safety and security of communities around the world.
While the G20 Religious Values Forum Association was launched in 2014 as a gathering of a number of academics, in conjunction with the G20 summit in Australia, then it became a sustainable gathering comprising experts, academics, religious leaders, and representatives of international institutions, organizations and bodies; To contribute to crystallizing societal public opinion on a number of issues of human concern.
Mostafa Badr El Din
