Message from Elga Sarapung

ACRP will be celebrating its 50th anniversary (1976-2026). A milestone that will be celebrated in Singapore, the country where ACRP was inaugurated. An institution I personally heard about around 1991, when Mrs. Gedong Bagoes Oka, a Balinese Hindu woman from Indonesia, firmly upheld Gandhian philosophy. Not just in discourse, but in practice and through her exemplary life: simplicity, non-violence, vegetarianism, and a deep respect for a healthy environment. In 1975, she even mobilized with her students to collect plastic in Denpasar, Bali.

Mrs. Gedong herself is an Indonesian woman who strongly advocates that women should be educated and not merely second-class citizens. They should also be prominent, actively involved, and exemplary in upholding the principles of non-violence, peaceful living, a love for a clean and healthy natural environment (including a no-plastic policy), and respect for others, regardless of ethnicity, culture, or religion.

It’s no wonder that in 1976, she founded a Gandhi Ashram in Candi Dasa, Bali. This shared space educates young people from various religious backgrounds, and even anyone who wishes to live there. It instills the values ​​mentioned above. Mrs. Gedong has been present since the founding of the WCRP in Tokyo (1970) and the ACRP in Singapore (1976). She is a woman who greatly inspired and encouraged me to become involved in both religious organizations, both at the regional level (ACRP) and at the global level (WCRP, which later became Religions for Peace). Both organizations, of which our institution, Interfidei (Institute for Interfaith Dialogue in Indonesia), was an active part. 

In 2002, during the General Assembly in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, our institution, Interfidei, was appointed as the Executive Coordinator, and I was appointed Chair of the Organizing Committee. The Assembly theme was “Asia, The Reconciler.” In subsequent General Assemblies, I served as a member of the Executive Committee. Since 2022, I have been entrusted with the role of Chair of the Asia-Pacific Interfaith Women’s Network (APWoFN) and, at the same time, the Secretary of Religions for Peace Indonesia (RfP Indonesia). 

Our journey with ACRP since 1991 has truly inspired and given us hope that we in the Asia Pacific have the collective “strength” of all religions and beliefs to face the various upheavals currently occurring in our communities and nations, and even globally. These include war and conflict, threats of political, economic, social, cultural and security instability, and even the challenges and threats of technological developments, including current media high technology. 

The Asia Pacific Women of Faith Network (APWoFN) has chosen three major concerns as its programs for 2022-2026: Climate Change, coordinated by Yasmin Kawada. (APWoFN Secretary), accompanied by Philippa Rowland; Human Trafficking, coordinated by Rev. A. Elga J. Sarapung (Chair); and Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, coordinated by Dr. Suphatmet Yunyasit (Vice Chair). 

In the course of implementing the activities of each Program, which are generally carried out online, both in the form of sharing experiences, thoughts, analysis, to think together, what needs to be done together in the future in a concrete action. We also hold activities in the form of workshops, as well as publishing books, namely sharing materials from the speakers. Even for Human Trafficking, it is hoped that through APWoFN, it can initiate concrete cooperation among Lobby and Advocacy activists on this issue who come from various member countries, considering the problem of this crime against humanity, Human Trafficking in the Asia Pacific is increasingly significant and destroys human dignity, as well as issues of Gender-based Sexual Violence.

We sincerely hope that, as we approach the 50th Anniversary of ACRP and its journey beyond, APWoFN will increasingly achieve our hopes of how Asia-Pacific women can become more united, able to work together to face various developments and changes, and to prevent and overcome the problems mentioned above. Both in each country and collectively as part of the Leaders of Religions and Beliefs in Asia Pacific. Women Leaders of Religions and Beliefs who are able to work together openly, critically, and oriented towards concrete action with commitment, integrity, and exemplary behavior, not just meeting and talking. 

This has clearly been initiated by a prominent female religious leader from Indonesia, Mrs. Gedong Bagoes Oka. We are confident that other Countries within the ACRP community also share this example. Let us remain enthusiastic and open to cooperation, networking, and collaboration, including with the younger generation, men, and even all genders, from all religions and beliefs, for the sake of our shared life and livelihood, which sustains each other in peace. Thank you.

Rev. A. Elga J. Sarapung
Co-President of Religions for Peace Asia
Moderator of Asia Pacific Women of Faith Network
Indonesia