Could you briefly introduce your organization and its mission?
Religions for Peace, founded in 1970, is the largest and most representative interreligious coalition for promoting joint action for peace among the world’s religious communities. It is active in all regions, including some of the most conflict-affected areas, creating multireligious partnerships to transform violent conflicts, promote just and harmonious societies, foster human development and protect the environment.
Religions for Peace Latin America and the Caribbean brings together representatives of the region’s main religious communities through the Latin American and Caribbean Council of Religious Leaders, which is one of the five regional interreligious councils in the global Religions for Peace network.
How does your work connect with social justice, human rights, peacebuilding, MHPSS, or community resilience, and what role do you see faith actors playing in these areas?
This relationship is evident in our meetings with religious leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean. Religions for Peace provides a space for religious communities to come together to promote:
- Peaceful, just and inclusive societies,
- Gender equality,
- A sustainable environment,
- Freedom of thought, conscience and religion,
- Interreligious education, and
- Global partnerships.
In this way each leader feels supported.
Why did you decide to join JLI, and what value do you find in being part of this community?
Religions for Peace has a partnership with JLI and UNICEF through a joint project known as “Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities.”
How can the JLI community best support you and your work moving forward?
Through documentation and the compilation of good practices related to the issues we work on, always in partnership with us, to be presented by both organizations.
What advice would you give potential JLI members?
Seek to work with partners while respecting their presence and role.
Is there a “hidden gem” from your organization that you believe more partners should adopt?
Respect and fraternity.
