RI's Makarim presides interfaith conference

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 09/12/2008 10:55 AM | World

Indonesian senior diplomat Makarim Wibisono recently presided at a UN conference on the interfaith cooperation, protection of human rights and dignity, the Indonesian UN Permanent Mission in Geneva says.

The Geneva Conference on Interfaith Cooperation and the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity was held at UN Headquarters in Geneva on Sept. 1-2.

In a release issued last week, the mission said Makarim, in his capacity as the president and co-founder of the Geneva Interfaith Intercultural Alliance (GIIA), joined a group of young figures representing various faiths and academics for the conference.

The conference aimed to provide inputs to the UN for the protection of human rights and people's dignity.

Until recently, Makarim was also the Indonesian ambassador to UN in Geneva.

The conference concluded with the "Interfaith Declaration on Peace and Human Rights", which called on world leaders to work with religious leaders to create peace and religious tolerance. It also called on the leaders to introduce subjects on tolerance in educational institutions.

The inaugural conference was facilitated by the Indonesian Mission, the Philippine's Mission, Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and GIIA.

The release said the conference saw around 180 people in attendance, including diplomats, scholars and theological students.