SUMMIT OUTCOMES
The Millennium World Peace Summit
"This gathering of the world's preeminent religious and spiritual leaders in a united call for peace will hopefully strengthen the prospect for peace as we enter the new millennium."
Kofi A. Annan
Secretary-General, United Nations
The Signing of the Commitment to Global Peace
The signing of the Commitment to Global Peace by several hundred of the preeminent international leaders from many religious traditions at the Summit. The two main facets of the Commitment are:
1) Condemning all violence perpetrated in the name of religion, and
2) Acknowledging the value of religious and ethnic diversity.
Other commitments include acknowledging the equal partnership of all people, calling for a global program of reforestation and seeking greater economic equity. This document is now circulating religious communities around the world for ongoing signing.
Initiation of a process to form a World Council of Religious and Spiritual Leaders
Initiation of a process to form a World Council of Religious and Spiritual Leaders to work in an advisory capacity with the United Nations and other international organizations in peacemaking and peace-keeping efforts. It will bring a religious and spiritual presence into conflict transformation and will help address critical issues facing the world community. There is a general consensus among religious leaders concerning the need for such a council. The details of its mission, structure, functions, and sources of funding have been addressed by a gathering of religious leaders and scholars at the first meeting of a Steering Council in October, 2001, organized by The Millennium World Peace Summit.
Co-founding of the Religious Leaders Initiative of the World Economic Forum
Co-Founding of the Religious Leaders Initiative of the World Economic Forum to bring moral and spiritual counsel to the major challenges of our time, including globalization and redressing the growing economic divide. At the 2001 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, The Millennium World Peace Summit and the World Economic Forum announced the launching of a Religious Initiative to engage the world's religious leadership more directly in the work of the Forum.
A Partnership with the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights
A Partnership with the United Nation's High Commission for Human Rights was founded to bring religious and spiritual voices to combat intolerance and racism. This lead to the production of a book, Sacred Rights: Faith Leaders on Tolerance and Respect, for the Human Rights Commission to support the World Conference Against Racism held in Durban, South Africa, in September 2001.
Establishment of a Global Commission for the Preservation of Sacred Sites
Establishment of a Global Commission for the Preservation of Sacred Sites was founded in conjunction with UNESCO and the World Monument Fund. The function of this commission is to engage religious communities in securing sacred sites endangered by conflict and intolerance and restoring those damaged by war.
The Opening of Interfaith Dialogue in Iran
The opening of international interfaith dialogue in Iran. From an interchange at the Summit came a historic exchange of visits between Muslim leaders from Iran and Buddhist leaders from Thailand, who agreed to commit to further dialogue on religious perspectives concerning economic development. Also arranged were high-level meetings between Jewish leaders and Iranian Muslim leaders. Subsequently, the Iranian government has invited the Millennium World Peace Summit to partner in the organization of an international inter-religious conference in Iran in 2002.
Congress on The Preservation of Religious Diversity
Organization of an International Congress on The Preservation of Religious Diversity in New Delhi, India, in November 2001. This developed out of workshops during the World Peace Summit that addressed tensions between the Christian and Hindu communities in India regarding economic development programs that were linked to religious conversion.