A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights

Reflections on the 2023 Parliament of the World's Religions A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights is a presentation by participants – from Australia – at the 2023 Parliament of World Religions in Chicago. Presenters are Bishop Philip Huggins, Adrian Dass and Ayesha Bux. This event will be held online on evening of Monday 30 October 2023, from 7pm, Australian Eastern Daylight time.

The Parliament of World Religions (PoWR) is the world’s biggest interfaith movement, first held in Chicago in 1893, reconvened in Chicago in 1993, and again in Chicago in 2023. In 2009, the Parliament of World Religions was held in Melbourne. The 2023 gathering had 8254 participants, from 95+ countries, and 210+ traditions. There were 150 booths in the exhibition hall, and 600+ panels and workshops, on topics such as religious freedom, inclusivity and diversity, climate change, human rights, food security, social justice and women’s rights.

Today we possess sufficient economic, cultural, and spiritual resources to introduce… a vision of peoples living peacefully together, of ethnic and ethical groupings and of religions sharing responsibility for the care of Earth. A vision rests on hopes, goals, ideals, standards…. it is the communities of faith who bear a responsibility to demonstrate that such hopes, ideals, and standards can be guarded, grounded, and lived.” (1993 Parliament of World Religions Global ethic statement)

“Your spiritual traditions have the power to guide people to a path of peace and nurture a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration. The urgency in this moment requires us to not just simply rely upon the recitation of scriptures and our sacred books, but it requires us to demonstrate the most incredible act and power known to humankind and that is the act of love.” (2023 Parliament of World Religions Opening address by Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson).

Presenters

Bishop Philip Huggins is a Bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia. He is a former President of the National Council of Churches in Australia. He has a long-time commitment to interfaith, and to peace, justice and reconciliation movements.

Ayesha Bux is the founder of SalamFest, celebrating the contributions of Muslims in the fields of arts and culture. She is on the JCMA Board (Jewish Christian Muslim Association) and an avid supporter of women’s empowerment, interfaith harmony, and empowerment of marginalised groups of the community.

Adrian Dass received a grant (National of Council of Churches in Australia, and Victorian Council of Churches) to attend PoWR to gain deeper understanding about ecumenical and interfaith relations, and the diversity of faith perspectives.