Imagine, Individual organization that promotes an innovative values-based approach to peace building guided by the vision that all humankind belongs
PRESS RELEASE (DRAFT)
Imagine, Individual organization that promotes an innovative values-based approach to peace building guided by the vision that all humankind belongs to one family...About URI-Africa "Our purpose is to establish a neutral platform wherein people of different religions and faith groups can come together to engage in constructive dialogue and make religions a healing force in Ethiopia and in the world." A few recent reports have shown a decline in religious beliefs in some areas of the world. The latest census data from Australia shows that the proportion of Australians identifying as Christian has dropped below 50 percent for the first time, with the number describing themselves as non-religious showing a major increase. Only 44 percent of Australians now identify as Christians, down from 61 percent in 2011. Thirty-nine percent now identify themselves as non-religious, up sharply from 22 percent just a decade ago. In a recent poll by Gallup, a record low 20% of people in the United States now consider the Bible the literal word of God. That represents a drop by half from the number 40 years ago. Belief in God in the United States has also seen a decline, to a record low 81%, down from 92% just ten years ago. That same Gallup poll finds17% of Americans do not believe in God. Other recent polls indicate that nearly 30% of Americans have no religious affiliation, the numbers having steadily grown over the last few decades. We are fortunate to have two learned religious scholars on our Board of Directors. Their knowledge and experience with religious subjects are invaluable as we encourage the movement away from religion to a community that is more universally inclusive and supportive of all humanity. "Our purpose is to serve the council members represented by the religious institutions in Ethiopia and world, by supporting them in freely practicing their faiths and thereby protecting their constitutional rights. We want to promote inter-religious harmony in Ethiopia and world". Our purpose is to practice and promote the Golden Rule throughout the world as a guiding principle of life and as a means of promoting the culture of peace and interfaith harmony." "Our purpose is to assist and support the family unit by helping parents realize the impact of family on their children's character; to teach the youth to value the benefits of a good marriage; to build the capacity of married couples to appreciate and respect the institution of marriage; and to build the capacity of the already existing institutions dealing with the issue.
Taking into consideration the need to establish a network and platform for religious and traditional leaders in the horn of Africa to work together, along with their respective governments and with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)?secretariat, to counter violent extremism and radicalization, to resolve cross-border conflicts, to enhance interreligious cooperation and inter-cultural harmony, and?to support the effort of IGAD in fighting desertification, preserving the environment,?promoting a culture of peace, and supporting regional integration and cultural exchange program among the people in the Horn of Africa, European Union Commission Global peace foundation and the United Religions Initiative (URI) – Africa signed a partnership agreement to work together toward this goal.
The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by Mr.Demelash Neda, of GPF, and, Regional Director of URI – Africa & Representative of URI to the African Union and the UN.
The agreement is also to foster the working partnership between the two organizations on the following issues:
The purpose of URI is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously-motivated violence, and to create cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings. URI has NGO consultative status?with the Economic and Social Council of the UN. URI is also an affiliate?member of the Department of Global Communications of the United Nations, previously known as the Department of Public Information (DPI).
URI is a bridge-building organization and it respects the uniqueness of each tradition and differences of practice and belief. URI strongly value voices that respect others and believe that sharing our values and wisdom can lead us to act for the good of all.
URI has 234 member organizations in 32 African countries. URI-Africa is located in Ethiopia, with sub-regional offices based in: Uganda, covering the Great Lakes Region; Djibouti, covering the Horn of Africa; Nigeria, covering the West Africa Region; and South Africa, covering the Southern Africa region.
URI-Africa signed an agreement and is currently working in partnership with: African Union, IGAD, UNFP regional office for Africa, UNEP-Africa office, African Media Initiative, and many other regional, international, inter-governmental, and non- governmental organizations.
URI, the world's largest grassroots interfaith network, cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world.?
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Addis Ababa,– African Union Commission (AUC) and United Religions Initiative – Africa (URI-Africa) have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their working cooperation to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue in Africa. The MoU was signed at the Headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by the Director of Civil Society and Diaspora (CIDO) of the African Union Commission, Dr. JinmiAdisa and Regional Director of URI for Africa, and Representative of URI to AUC, ECA, UNEP Demelash Neda on .............. According to the signed MoU, AUC and URI-Africa will cooperate to explore the opportunity for cooperation and non-exclusive partnership in the following areas: Imagine, an individual organization that promotes an innovative values-based approach to peace building guided by the vision that all humankind belongs to one family...
? To collaborate and maintain a close and continuing working partnership to enhance the effort of promoting peaceful co-existence among followers of different religions and cultures in Africa
? To implement jointly the declaration of the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum.
? To counter violent extremism, radicalization, and terrorism in Africa and to combat hatred, prejudice, intolerance, and stereotyping on the basis of religion and culture
? To promote and facilitate a culture of peace, inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, harmony, and cooperation in Africa
? To put a spotlight on helping religious leaders in Africa to understand the important role they must play in promoting inter-religious cooperation for peaceful co-existence, reconciliation, security, environmental protection, and sustainable development
? To promote constructive dialogue and peaceful co-existence among followers of different religions, cultures, and ethnic groups in Africa through the teaching of the Golden Rule which says “Treat others the way you want to be treated” as the Golden Rule is affirmed in many religions, traditions, indigenous cultures, and secular philosophies as a fundamental principle of life and moral. It is also the foundation upon which the global ethic is founded and addresses critical issues such as democracy, human rights, respect for one another, gender equity, social justice, and inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony.
? To join hand together to bring different religions, faith-based and interfaith organizations in Africa to work together on Agenda 2063 and post-developmental
? To promote peace education in Africa as part of the school curriculum
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After signing the agreement, Dr. Adisa said “I highly appreciate the recommendable work of URI-Africa in promoting daily interfaith cooperation among followers of different religions and faith traditions to promote a culture of peace, justice, and healing. The work of URI Africa is very relevant to addressing the issue of counter-violent extremism, radicalization, and ending religiously motivated violence in Africa. CIDO is happy to partner and works closely with URI Africa to promote inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue for peaceful co-existence in Africa”.
DrAdisa added: “I want to thank Demelash Neda for his exemplary effort in assisting us to organize the highly successful Interfaith, Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue at the African Union Commission”. I also duly appreciate him for his commitment, dedication, vision, passion, reaching out mechanism, public relation skill, lobbying ability, high diplomacy, and leadership in facilitating partnership and building bridges among grassroots practitioners, interfaith organizations, religious & traditional leaders and policy makers on the issue of a culture of peace, inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony and cooperation in Africa. Demelash Neda is a champion and spokesperson for the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum throughout Africa and the rest of the world. It is a great pleasure for us to work very closely URI-Africa”.
On his part Demelash Neda said “URI , GPF, Africa acknowledged the initiative of African Union Commission and African Religious Leaders for establishing the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum to harness the work of religious communities in Africa” He further said, “As a bridge building organization, URI-Africa also appreciate the work of AUC, Department of CIDO for facilitating the participation of non-state actors and civil society in Africa with the African Union, for enhancing the collaboration between the African Union, Member States, and Civil Society organizations, for engaging the African Diaspora community on the issue of Africa and for its commitment to ensuring that the African Union represents not only African Governments but also the totality of its people”. Imagine, an individual organization that promotes an innovative values-based approach to peace building guided by the vision that all humankind belongs to one family.
“On behalf of members of URI, I want also to recognize the work of the Economic, Social and Cultural of the African Union (ECOSOCC) for giving the opportunity for African civil society to play an active role in charting the future of the Continent and fostering partnership for civil societies in Africa to work with African governments to contribute to the principles, policies, and programs of the African Union”. He added. Imagine, an individual organization that promotes an innovative values-based approach to peace building guided by the vision that all humankind belongs to one family.
The purpose of URI is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously-motivated violence, and to create cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings. URI has NGO consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN. URI is also an affiliate member of the Department of Global Communications of the United Nations, previously known as the Department of Public Information (DPI).
URI is a bridge-building organization and it respects the uniqueness of each tradition and differences of practice and belief. URI strongly value voices that respect others and believe that sharing our values and wisdom can lead us to act for the good of all. URI has 234 member organizations in 32 African countries. URI-Africa is located in Ethiopia, with sub-regional offices based in: Uganda, covering the Great Lakes Region; Djibouti, covering the Horn of Africa; Nigeria, covering the West Africa Region; and South Africa, covering the Southern Africa region.
URI-Africa signed an agreement and is currently working in partnership with: African Union, IGAD, UNFP regional office for Africa, UNEP-Africa office, African Media Initiative, The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers and many other regional, international, inter-governmental, and non-governmental organizations. URI, the world's largest grassroots interfaith network, cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world. URI-Africa is cultivating peaceful coexistence among different religions and cultures through its 157 member organizations in over 28 African countries by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world. URI Africa’s vision is to see a united, prosperous, and peaceful Africa where followers of different religions live together in harmony and respect each other based on Imagine, an individual organization that promotes an innovative values-based approach to peace building guided by the vision that all humankind belongs to one family.
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Email us or Contact us;
+251972385527 or +251968537127
Demelash Neda Meretu
May Peace, Compassion, Justice, and Human Dignity Prevail on Earth!
In peace and gratitude,
Areas of Actions:
Inter-religious?Dialogue?Intercultural?Dialogue Peace and Reconciliation Shared Human Values, Environment, Tour, and Travel
Forms of Actions:
Networking Advocacy