Religions for Peace in the FPCC Stocktaking Meeting

Nairobi, Kenya.  Religions for Peace, UNICEF and other key partners such as the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities and various faith-based organizations are having a review and assessment meeting on the progress and achievements of the first-five years of the Faith for Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities (FPCC) initiative at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club from January 16-17, 2024.

The aim of the meeting is to understand the changes and emerging situations, issues, and challenges in order to recalibrate priorities. It is hoped that the meeting will contribute to making the FPCC more effective as a faith engagement mechanism in responding and addressing the various issues and challenges facing that children and institutions that work for and with children. Another focus will be to strengthen coordination and collaboration in order to promote meaningful and increased faith engagement at global, regional, and national levels.

The key contribution of Religions for Peace in this partnership is the convening of the leadership of faith communities and engagement of religious actors at the frontline of action including working within and with communities in providing the multifaith mechanism to implement the FPCC initiative.  This is in keeping with the FPCC Kathmandu Regional Faith Leaders Summit Statement, which emphasized that collaboration is a key to provide the best environment for children to develop their best potential and promote their wellbeing based on the diverse spiritualities and faith traditions.

Delegations from Religions for Peace representative countries include the following:  Ms. Deepika Singh, Associate Secretary General of Religions for Peace International; Dr. Francis Kuria Kagema-Secretary General, RfP-African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL), Elias Szczytnicki, Secretary General of Latin American and Caribbean Council of Religious Leaders (LACCRL), Jimmy Obuya, RfP International Global FPCC Coordinator; Dr. Rozilla Adhiambo, ACRL FPCC Regional Coordinator;  Pablito Baybado, Jr, RfP Asia FPCC Regional Coordinator; Ms. Huma Ikramullah Khan, Secretary General, RfP Pakistan; Irene Kizito, Deputy Executive Director Interreligious Council of Kenya (IRC Kenya); Janet Mwende, IRC Kenya; Sarah Mokaya, ACRL; Sivers Hamukoma, Zambia Interfaith Networking Group; Sheikh Issa Traore, RfP Mali; and, Conrado Flavio, Religions for Peace Brazil.

Religions for Peace is committed to leading efforts to advance effective multi-religious cooperation for peace on global, regional, national and local levels. The focus is on  ensuring that the religious communities organised on these same levels assume and exercise appropriate leadership and ownership of these efforts. Multi-religious cooperation for peace and shared well-being is the hallmark of Religions for Peace. This cooperation includes but also goes beyond dialogue and bears fruit in common concrete action.