UN General Assembly Adopts Philippines-Pakistan Sponsored Resolution on “Promotion of Inter-Religious and Inter-Cultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace”

Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Antonio M. Lagdameo and Pakistan Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram, with Minister Noel M. Novicio of the Philippine Mission to the UN and Ms. Rabia Ijaz of the Pakistan Mission to the UN, lead negotiators and co-facilitators for the negotiations on the UN General Assembly resolution on the “Promotion of Inter-Religious and Inter-cultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace

NEW YORK 22 December 2023 – The United Nations General Assembly adopted on 18 December 2023 by consensus the Philippines-Pakistan sponsored resolution on the “Promotion of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace.”

The resolution aims to promote inter-religious and intercultural dialogue with an objective of achieving peace and stability and promoting a culture of peace; and to strengthen mechanisms and actions for promotion of a genuine and constructive dialogue across the cultural and religious divide.

It also calls on Member States and political and religious leaders to promote inclusion and unity to combat racism, xenophobia, hate speech, violence and discrimination.

“With your invaluable support, we are hopeful that the United Nations General Assembly will reinforce its enduring pledge to foster and retain a Culture of Peace – a commitment that is more essential now than ever,” Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Antonio M. Lagdameo and Pakistan Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram said in their joint letter to all Members of the United Nations before the adoption of the resolution.

The resolution also underlines the important role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the invaluable contributions of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue at all levels.

Further, the resolution recognizes that the open public debate of ideas, as well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue, at the local, national and international levels can be among the best protections against religious intolerance and can play a positive role in strengthening democracy and combating religious hatred, and convinced that a continuing dialogue on these issues can help to overcome existing misperceptions.

Since 2004, the Philippines and Pakistan have spearheaded the negotiations and adoption of the resolution under the General Assembly’s culture of peace agenda. This year, a more streamlined version of the biennial resolution was put forward by the Philippines and Pakistan for the General Assembly’s consideration after informal consultations with Member States, with the thematic elements of the previous resolution maintained. END

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.