Senior religious leaders of different faiths from Religions for Peace, the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition, on Wednesday confirmed their commitment to work together to help end dire poverty. Their voices were delivered to the High-level Event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) convened by the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the UN General Assembly yesterday.

Religions for Peace is collaborating with the UN Millennium Campaign to facilitate the dynamic partnerships of world’s religious communities as key partners in the effort to realize the MDGs.

“While political leaders and governments have a principle responsibility to fulfill the MDGs, we pledge the commitment of our religious communities as key partners,” said Dr. William F. Vendley, Religions for Peace Secretary General.  “We will not be satisfied until the full human dignity of every one of our brothers and sisters who live today in poverty and destitution is honored.”

“While the MDGs cannot be achieved without the active engagement of non-state organizations including faith-based groups, the private sector and civil society, the actions of governments are necessary to eradicate extreme poverty by 2015,” said Salil Shetty, Director of the Millennium Campaign. “Today, faith leaders are sending a clear message to government leaders that peoples of all nations and religious persuasions expect them to deliver on their promises.”

More than 40 religious leaders, political leaders, and leadership from development and faith organizations joined together for a consultation at the United Nations Church Center to confirm their commitment to work together. The consultation was co-sponsored by Religions for Peace and the Millennium Campaign.

Among the high-level participants were Mr. Andrew Steer, Director General for Policy and Research, Department for International Development, United Kingdom; Dr. Katherine Marshall, Senior Advisor, World Bank; Mr. Saad Houry, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF; and Mr. Cheick Sidi Diarra, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States.

Honorable Alimamy P. Koroma, Minister, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Government of Sierra Leone, commended the work that faith communuties are doing to combat poverty. He added, “We can say Sierra Leone is one of the most peaceful countries in the world thanks to the work of Religions for Peace.”

Among the faith community who played a leadership role at the event were Religions for Peace Co-Presidents Dr. Vinu Aram, Director, Shanti Ashram of India, Ms. Stellamaris Mulaeh, Programme Coordinator, Fastenopfer Kenya Country Programme, His Grace John O. Onaiyekan, Archbishop, Archdiocese of Abuja, and Serigne Mansour Sy, President, Federation of Islamic Associations of Senegal; Religions for Peace Honorary Presidents Rev. Gertrude Kapuma, Vice President, All African Conference of Churches, and Dr. Din Syamsuddin, President, Muhammadiyah; and Mr. Steve Killelea, Founder, Global Peace Index, and International Trustee of Religions for Peace.

The religious leaders issued a statement of their commitment, “The massive scale of poverty and related suffering can be changed. Because we have the capacity to make this change, we have the moral obligation to do so. Each of our faith traditions requires us to stand with those who live in abject poverty and destitution and speak out and take action on their behalf.  We are united in our call to world leaders, governments, civil society, religious communities and the private sector to take bold action to accelerate the implementation of the MDGs.” [Full statement below.] 

The outcomes and commitments of this consultation will be included in the United Nation’s Secretary General’s report which will be distributed at the High-level Event on 25^th September.

Religions for Peace will also help advance the Millennium Campaign on 17-19 October 2008, when millions of people around the world will “Stand Up and Take Action” to tell their leaders that they expect them to deliver on the concrete commitments made in 2000 and that they reiterated at this week’s High-Level Meeting. Last year, 43 million people stood up against poverty. This year the number is expected to double. The global movement in support of the Millennium Development Goals is growing. We will no longer stay seated in the face of poverty and the broken promises to end it. For more information on the “Stand Up” mobilization, visit www.standagainstpoverty.org.

Religions for Peace is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace since 1970. Headquartered in New York and accredited to the United Nations, Religions for Peace works through affiliated inter-religious councils in 70 countries in six continents.