Inter-cultural Understanding and Co-operation

This theme focuses on understanding cultural pluralism and committing to it.
It also provides the opportunity to examine current policy changes and their impact on partnership relations. From the best practices examined and the lessons learnt we hope to move forward and strengthen our networks and thus the impetus for positive change.

Religions for Peace

As religious communities are well organized civil institutions with billions of followers that transcend race, class, and national divides, they have a great opportunity and the potential to partner together and take common action. This theme will examine multi-faith dialogue, strategies, and actions taken for peace and reconciliation.

Cultural Identities and Cultural Rights; Minority and Indigenous Cultures and Wisdoms

This theme examines the issue of advocacy and how to promote and safeguard cultural identity and cultural rights. Upholding ethics in practice is a major challenge especially concerning minority and indigenous cultures. For example, ethnic faiths that fall outside the domain of the world’s major religions could be accorded special status of intangible cultural heritage. This was provided by the UNESCO Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, adopted on October 17, 2003.