We expressed our utmost appreciation to the Philippine Government, in facilitating the successful conduct of this parallel gathering of faith-based groups and civil society, under the theme ‘Strengthening Partnerships with Governments on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation.’

We noted and deliberated on the issues and challenges confronting approaches to interfaith dialogue and cooperation and found common ground to address them through stronger collaborations with the Governments.

We recognized that through the years, in spite of efforts to forge ahead just coexistence and harmony, the lack of mutual appreciation and understanding of cultures and religions was seen as a source of conflict among nations and within a state. Religious sectarianism and discrimination have at times evolved into religious persecution of minority groups or have become grounds for acts of terrorism in the name of religion. Hence, continuing dialogue must be exerted to achieve just coexistence and understanding and to remove barriers to harmony.

We underscored that it is imperative today for member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement to address the challenge for Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development. There is no peace without development, and no development can come without peace. But neither can be achieved without interfaith dialogue.

We noted that from our sharing in this parallel gathering of faith-based groups and civil society, numerous ongoing initiatives and collaborative efforts offered much hope that religious traditions can also be harnessed as resources for building peace. Religious minorities can become active partners in peace building when government assists their participation in interfaith dialogue.

We acknowledged that the promotion of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and cooperation can become a cornerstone of a government policy for peace and development. In the case of the Philippines, the dialogue-meetings of the Bishops-Ulama Conference over the last 14 years have shown that religious leaders from conflicting parties can provide common ground and symbolic gesture for building peace in our religious traditions.

We noted that the way to peace is not at the end of a gun nor simply across the negotiating table. What is needed is a deeper appreciation for the spiritual bases for peace in all our religious traditions.

1. Encourage and assist faith-based and other community-based groups to engage in dialogue-meetings and inter-faith activities;
2. Participate in the dialogue of life and action in areas that are deeply held and widely shared;
3. Prepare a new generation of leaders among our youth that can view religious traditions as resources for peace and development by actively supporting existing programs and developing new initiatives;
4. Encourage intra-faith dialogue in each country according to their respective religious traditions;
5. Promote religious freedom of any individual or community as a basic human right;
6. Provide special attention to education on interfaith dialogue and cooperation as an important element for peace and development, and that this be started in the formative years, using among others, sports and cultural activities;
7. Recognize the importance of engaging the media in communicating the positive messages of interfaith dialogue and cooperation;
8. Advance shared security through peaceful and pro-active approaches to development, giving proper attention to the voice of the poor and the indigenous peoples; respect for minorities; and vigilance over those who are in power; and,
9. Strengthen a “focal unit” in the United Nations that shall facilitate and coordinate interfaith initiatives of member countries.