Griffith University’s Centre for Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue was among the key collaborators at the 2018 G20 Interfaith Forum, which closed in Buenos Aires on Friday (Sept 28). Centre Director Dr Brian Adams (pictured) was in the Argentinean capital for the fifth annual staging of the forum. “It is an honour to have spoken for the Forum organisers,” Dr Adams said.
Religious and ethical issues tied to economy, development, and society have been discussed in detail across three days by political leaders, academics, lawyers, and civil society leaders.
Talks were guided by an overarching forum theme of ‘Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development: Religious Contributions for a Dignified Future.’
“When we first developed the concept of the G20 Interfaith Forum more than five years ago, we saw an opportunity to showcase to the world that powerful contributions can be made when people and organisations from across religious, political, cultural and national boundaries work together to address pressing global challenges,” Dr Adams said.
“In particular, we wanted to demonstrate the extent to which religious and philosophical perspectives and initiatives can support the G20 agenda and contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We do this while sharing experiences of best practice and research, and building relationships and networks across faiths and social sectors.”
In advance of the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Buenos Aires (Nov 30 – Dec 1), the participants looked at the part religious communities can play in promoting the goals of successive G20 Economic Summits.
The G20 Interfaith Forum helps identify and showcase the policy and societal contributions of faith traditions and philosophies on leading global issues.
Griffith’s Centre for Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue works to foster respect for one another through increased understanding of the religious, cultural and philosophical perspectives, of others.
Bolstering the Forum’s significance, the event was this year presented with the Africa Peace Award on behalf of the United Religions Initiative – Africa.
The award – which recognises the event’s “substantial contribution” to the G20 Economic Forum – was given in acknowledgement and appreciation of the Forum’s “outstanding work in bringing together opinion leaders such as scholars, lawyers and political leaders with faith and interfaith leaders from around the world”.
The Africa Peace Award also paid tribute to Dr Adams and the Forum’s organising team, noting the “tireless effort” that has gone into staging the event over the past five years “to facilitate peace and harmony between people of all religious and philosophical traditions while exploring ways to work together to strengthen human development”.
