Declaration Of VII Religions Congress in Kazakhstan
NUR SULTAN, 17 September — Participants in the seventh Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, Politicians, and Heads of International Organizations, which concluded in the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan yesterday, stressed the importance of shared values in the spiritual and social development of humanity, and the need to combat intolerance, hate speech, discrimination, and conflicts based on ethnic differences. religious and cultural diversity and overcoming them, respecting the richness of religious and cultural diversity.
This Declaration was adopted by the majority of delegates of the VII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and is being transmitted to the authorities, political leaders and religious figures around the world, relevant regional and international organizations, civil society organizations, religious associations, and leading experts. It will also be distributed as an official document of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
The principles contained in the current Declaration can be disseminated at all regional and international levels, for consideration in all political decisions, legislative norms, educational programs, and mass media in all interested countries.
The Declaration affirms the role of the Republic of Kazakhstan as an authoritative and global center of inter-civilizational, interreligious, and interfaith dialogue, and thanks the Republic of Kazakhstan and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for convening the VII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, for their humanitarian initiatives, and for their contribution to renewal and progress, peace and harmony.
The statement Declaration of the final meetings affirmed respect for freedom of expression and sought to develop a dialogue with the media and other community institutions to clarify the importance of religious values in promoting religious knowledge, interfaith harmony, and civil peace, as well as developing general tolerance towards religions.
The final Declaration called for recognizing the value of education and spirituality in personal and interreligious development, welcoming all international, regional, national, and local initiatives, especially the efforts of religious leaders to promote dialogue between religions, cultures, and civilizations, and the need to intensify cooperation between religious communities, international, national and public institutions and non-governmental organizations in a certain period after the pandemic,
The Declaration condemned extremism, radicalism, and terrorism that lead to religious persecution and harm to human life and dignity, expressing the participants’ concern about the global increase in the number of migrants and refugees in need of humanitarian assistance and protection.
The final statement called on national governments and international organizations empowered to provide comprehensive assistance to all religious and ethnic groups that have been subjected to rights violations and violence by extremists and terrorists as a result of wars and military conflicts.
The Declaration also called on world leaders to abandon all aggressive and destructive rhetoric that destabilizes the world, stop conflict and bloodshed around the world, and tirelessly call on religious leaders and prominent political figures from around the world to develop dialogue in the name of friendship, solidarity, peaceful coexistence, and active participation. For leaders of the world and traditional religions and prominent political figures in the conflict resolution process for long-term stability.
The statement called for supporting practical initiatives to implement dialogue between religions and sects in order to build social justice and solidarity for all peoples, and solidarity with the efforts of the United Nations and all other international, governmental, and regional institutions and organizations, to promote dialogue among civilizations, religions, states, and nations.
The participants welcomed the progress made by the global community in the fields of science, technology, medicine, industry, and other fields, but we note the importance of aligning them with spiritual, social, and human values.
The statement called on leaders of the political world and businessmen to focus on overcoming the imbalances in the development of modern societies, reducing the gap in the well-being of different segments of the population and different countries of the world, and increasing the role of religious education and training.
The Final Statement was adopted by the majority of delegates of the Seventh Conference of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and is conveyed to authorities, political leaders, religious figures around the world, relevant regional and international organizations, civil society organizations, religious associations, and leading experts. It was also distributed as an official document of the seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly.
