First World Conference on “Religions, Creeds and Value Systems: Joining Forces to Enhance Equal Citizenship Rights”

The first World Conference on “Religions, Creeds and Value Systems: Joining Forces to Enhance Equal Citizenship Rights” will be held on 25 June 2018 under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan. It will mark a new conceptual departure towards expanding the boundaries of the convergence of values, which bring the world of religions and faiths together.

While celebrating diversity and multiculturalism, the conference will aim at promoting equal citizenship rights, which together with global citizenship is another name for peace. This initiative is a contribution to the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights

First Plenary Panel

CONCEPT OF EQUAL CITIZENSHIP AND POINTS OF CONVERGENCE OF RELIGIONS, CREEDS AND OTHER VALUE SYSTEMS

OBJECTIVES

Identify points of convergence between religions, beliefs and value-systems in their shared role promoting and in advancing equal and inclusive citizenship rights
Highlight the foundations for common action of all religions, beliefs and value-systems to advance equal and inclusive citizenship rights by giving greater prominence in principle and in practice to common bedrock principles
Outline challenges hindering the celebration of cultural and religious diversity in the 21st century
Make recommendations on how the true interpretation of religions, creeds and value systems could contribute to the advancement of equal and inclusive citizenship rights, national unity and international harmony

Second Plenary Panel

EQUAL CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS AND VULNERABLE/DISADVANTAGED/DISCRIMINATED SOCIAL SEGMENTS: CASE-STUDY OF GENDER, RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

OBJECTIVES

Identify current mechanisms related to the promotion, protection and implementation of minority rights for religious communities, gender, people with disabilities and indigenous people, and identify areas of improvement
Reflect on why the realization of equality in citizenship rights is not progressing sufficiently, despite international instruments and mechanisms on minority rights, and outline factors responsible for the marginalization of religious minorities, gender, people with disabilities and indigenous people
Outline factors responsible for the politicization of human rights in the context of religious minorities
Discuss solutions required and make recommendations needed to address challenges and obstacles impeding the full and impartial enjoyment of equal citizenship rights

Third Plenary Panel

EQUAL CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS AND VULNERABLE/ DISADVANTAGED/DISCRIMINATED SOCIAL SEGMENTS: CASE-STUDY OF MIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

OBJECTIVES

Analyse current mechanisms related to the promotion, protection and implementation of minority rights for migrants and displaced people, and identify areas of improvement
Identify existing gaps in international and domestic legal instruments and in the effective implementation of such instruments in practice
Outline recommendations regarding identify measures to influence policy-change in favour of promoting and strengthening equal citizenship rights for migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons

Fourth Plenary Panel

EQUAL CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS: MOVING TOWARDS A NEW PARADIGM

OBJECTIVES

Suggest methods to ascertaining the effective enjoyment of citizenship rights celebrating diversity and multiculturalism while consolidating national unity;
Item
Emphasise with examples the impossibility in the real world to achieve equal citizenship rights without the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and that hierarchization of these rights constitute a challenge to the promotion of such citizenship rights;
Identify a list of 10 – 12 key priorities to be taken into account by global decision-makers to promote and advance equal and inclusive citizenship rights (to be presented in the format of a resolution that will be submitted to UN ECOSOC);
Outline recommendations for the follow-up mechanisms on the promotion of equal citizenship rights, in particular:

the establishment of a Global Citizenship Task-Force;
5 years review mechanism of measures taken by UN member-States to promote equal citizenship rights and;
a yearly conference – held under the auspices of the World Conference Sponsorship Committee – to review progress towards the promotion of equal and inclusive citizenship rights at a global level.