World religious leaders commit to uphold human rights

WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

2008 DECEMBER 11

WCC general secretary Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia was one of ten world religious leaders who signed a statement entitled “Faith in Human Rights” at an International Inter-religious Conference in The Hague, Netherlands on Wednesday, 10 December.

The ceremony in the presence of a large number of national and international dignitaries and human rights activists celebrated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations exactly 60 years earlier.

The statement acknowledges “that sadly enough religion sometimes is being misused in a way which violates human rights.”

The signatories also commit to contribute to a fuller implementation of human rights: “Religion has to stand for peace, reconciliation, universal values, mutual respect and upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms. Our faith traditions have been and are capable of providing inspiration and guidance towards realising these aims. We wish to reiterate our commitment to respect all human rights for all, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

In a comment on the signing of the statement, Kobia said it was the role of religious leaders to “study carefully our respective holy scriptures and teachings” in view of defending human rights. “We need to address situations where harm has been done in the name of religion, promote forgiveness, reconciliation and healing in order to foster mutual respect and understanding among our communities, and stimulate interfaith co-operation with mutual respect,” he added.

Other signatories included the Dalai Lama, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as well as high-profile representatives of Judaism, Islam and other religions of the world.

Source:

www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/world-religious-leaders-c.html

Related pages:

• 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement
• Comment by WCC general secretary Kobia