First Comprehensive Analysis Of Religion at the UN Released; Provides Blueprint for Religion to Play More Constructive Role

4/3/2002

From: Geoffrey Knox for Religion Counts, 212-229-0540 or 917-414-1749

UNITED NATIONS, April 3 -- The first comprehensive analysis of religion at the United Nations was released today at UN headquarters by a panel representing diverse religions, including the UN's Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights on the question of religious intolerance. "Religion and Public Policy at the UN," published by Religion Counts, examines the unique role that religion plays in formulating international policy. Based on two years of research, including on-site observations at UN meetings and interviews with 60 expert informants, the study examines the history of religious groups at the UN, with separate sections devoted to Judaism, Islam, and the Holy See, and provides fresh insights into why and how religion is both a positive contributor and a contentious partner at this secular institution.

Given current events, from the September 11 terrorist attacks to the escalating violence in Israel and Palestinian territories, from a re-emergence of women's rights in a post-Taliban Afghanistan to the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, there is an urgent need to understand the complex and powerful dimension of religion within the UN system. A primary goal of the publication is to provide an actual blueprint for religious and secular non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as UN agencies to see more clearly how religion can work constructively at the UN. The experiences and voices of the interviewees are highlighted throughout the report to give concrete examples of how the UN operates and to identify the pitfalls and lessons learned by NGOs and UN agencies. As one UN official stated after reading a preview of the publication, "I couldn't believe what I learned."

Religion and Public Policy at the UN was released during a special luncheon discussion with distinguished panelists representing different religions, including Islam, Hindu, Quaker, Catholic, and Judaism. Abdelfattah Amor, special rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights on the question of religious intolerance was a lead presenter on the panel and offered insights based on nine years experience in that position.

"Readers may be surprised at the range and potency of religion's role in future public policy," stated panel member, Philip J. Boyle, chief operating officer at The Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics, which conducted the research on which the report is based. "Religion has been a critical part of the UN since its inception and continues to offer a distinct dimension and voice there that other entities do not bring to international issues. The UN cannot fail to engage with religion and in doing so must recognize that religion is not monolithic and defies predictability, especially when it comes to the critical issues debated at the UN."

Other panel members at the release of the publication included: Dr. Azza Karam, an Egyptian Muslim and director of Women's Programs at the World Conference on Religion and Peace; Sr. Joan Kirby, a Religious of the Sacred Heart, Representative of the Temple of Understanding at the United Nations; Jack Patterson, Quaker representative to the United Nations; and Arvind Sharma, Ph.D., M. Th., a Hindu and Birks Professor of Comparative Religion Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University.

"The role of religion and religious institutions in secular governmental organizations is, as this report demonstrates, not a simple matter," said Mary Ann Stein, president of The Moriah Fund and board member of the New Israel Fund, who served as moderator of the panel. "While religious values can drive very positive efforts, religious beliefs that are not shared across, or even within, cultures can have a divisive impact that is counterproductive to the work of the UN and its components."

Public awareness of religion at the United Nations increased dramatically as a result of media coverage surrounding the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo that was part of an unprecedented series of international UN conferences on the environment, population and development, women, human rights, and social development that moved to the forefront of UN advocacy. The charged religious atmosphere at these meetings gave many observers pause to think about religion's role in international dialogue. This new awareness and increased concern led to the development of Religion and Public Policy at the UN.

The results of research for this publication show that while Secretary-General Kofi Annan has set a positive tone of appreciation for religion at the UN, deep ambivalence about religious groups persists among the NGO community and within the UN system. Two interviewees addressed this question:

"How does a secular, plural, tolerant entity deal with religious thought and values, which are in many instances less malleable, less tolerant? That is a challenge to the institution, especially when you start getting religions that disagree." -- Leader of progressive religious NGO

-- "No one coming to the UN is neutral. Everyone comes here with moral values, ideas they believe in. The lesbians and the communists come with moral values, as do those organizations that come with a belief in the (traditional) family." -- Leader of conservative NGO

Religion and Public Policy at the UN is divided into five main sections. An opening section -- The Conservative and Progressive Divide at Beijing Plus Five -- is a case study that shows how volatile the mixture of religion with public policy making can be at times. The second section -- Religion's Place and Power at the UN -- examines the history of religion writ large at the UN and then specific religions' involvement from its founding to the present. In the third section, trends in how religion is intersecting with public policy today at the UN are explored. Another case study makes up the fourth section -- Interfaith Efforts -- which focuses on the August 2000 Millennium World Peace Summit. The final section offers a perspective on the future of religion at the UN.

------ Religion Counts is an independent, international inter-religious group of scholars, experts and leaders convened by the Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics and Catholics for a Free Choice. The group provides a positive, ethically sensitive religious contribution to discourse on issues surrounding population, reproductive health, and development policies.