The Partnership Committee's proposal for a 'Decade' has been elaborated taking into account several important institutions related to the United Nations :

•  The Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace (United Nations, New York)

•  The Alliance of Civilizations and its High Level Group ;

•  The Human Rights Council of the United Nations ;

•  Spiritual and religious leaders, religious NGOs, Interfaith organisations and networks of interfaith organisations etc.>

'Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace' has not been facilitated by the recent outbreak of misunderstanding and violence as a result of the cartoons representing the Prophet Mohammed in Denmark. The various viewpoints expressed during the debate on the 'Defamation of Religion' resolution at the first Session of the Human Rights Council last month illustrates the gaps between various government's positions on issues such as protection of the dignity of religion, free expression about religion and whether the United Nations should protect any one religion from 'defamation'.

Moreover, the use of such epithets as 'axis of evil' or 'combat against evil' (through one particular religion) expressed by representastives of states illustrate the confusion reigning vis à vis religious terminology when applied to politics.

The divide between Muslim and Christian 'civilizations' was well illustrated in recent Human Rights Council debates, and only partially resolved through the votes of that Council.

Concepts of religion as a private matter vis à vis concepts of religion as a group, ethnic or state matter were hardly reconsiled during these debates.

Thus a Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace is a welcome concept. But where would be the first signs of a new impetus for dialogue when most recent events point to a 'clash' ? The breakthrough is perhaps in the concept 'civilizations' - referring to important and different historical, ethno-religious entities which continue to exist in the modern globalised world.

Such 'entities' must begin to understand each other as 'civilizations', as historically-originated quite different parts of one world fabric. A learning process is involved - rather than seeing the strange 'other' entity as a hostile enemy, we should uncover its history and discover its positive aspects as well as its special contribution to world polity and society.

Behind some conflicts there are quite contradictory concepts of the Cosmos and its influence in daily life. No 'God' in the Western sense exists in Buddhism we are told, yet no 'karma' exists specifically in Christianity, either. The Islamic world, specialists tell us, containes as many concepts of Shari'a as the Christian world contains denominations and churches, yet all this is not well understood.

Unfortunately, regional 'lobby groups' of states promote what are considered valid criticisms or rejections of other 'lobby groups' main preoccupations, and role of the 'alliance of civilizations' is forgotten. Yet regional, political groupings encompass a multitude of 'civilizations' within themselves and not one precise civilization and this is also a neglected reality.

The first step towards educating ourselves in respect to the above-noted difficulties may be a vote of the General Assembly to 'take these difficulties by the horns', to face them in common politically by calling for a 'Decade of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace' . The difficulty inherent in any incipient 'conflict of civilizations' must be understood in its depth, and political leadership in the United Nations must look to the specialists (religious and spiritual leaders, historians of religion and culture, interfaith organisations, anthropologists, ethnologists etc.) for guidance in combatting the difficulties.

The Alliance of Civilizations has begun a long combat. The interfaith NGOs, the leaders of world religions and spirituality, the member states of the United Nations - all must join forces now to solve these major problems.

Charles Graves, D. Theol.
Secretary General
Interfaith International
(NGO Special consultative status ECOSOC)

(member of the Partnership Committee for 'The Creation of a Spiritual >or Interreligious Forum for World Peace at the United Nations' )