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KAICIID and the 2020 G20 Interfaith Forum
As leaders and experts who work at the interface of religion and policy, we are conscious of the ways that religious communities have responded to the challenge and of ways they have learned to adapt. Most of us will never forget this year’s Easter, this year’s Passover, this year’s Ramadan, and the ways that life in every religious community has been affected. Our consciences have also been seared by other pandemics—the all-too-resilient strains of racism—both personal and structural; the burdens of inequality, in all their myriad forms; the suffering of people who 'can't breathe;' the unending flood of refugees and displaced persons; the ongoing degradation of the environment; and countless other ills that bear in upon us as we shelter and social distance in our homes.”
- H.E. Metropolitan Emmanuel, Metropolitan of France and Chairman of the KAICIID Board of Directors
Peace Journalist Network to combat hate speech and reduce conflict in CAR (Reseau des Journalists Sensible aux conflicts)
Established in 2018, the KAICIID-supported Peace Journalist Network (Le Reseau de Journalists de Sensibilisation Conflit) seeks to report on peace and security with ethical integrity and factual rigor, as well as counter divisive rhetoric and incitement to violence with messages of reconciliation, unity and constructive dialogue. The Network’s core aim is to strengthen the capacity, skillset and conflict-prevention literacy of its journalists as they report on the impact of hostilities and trauma. Today, the network has some 400 members — Central African journalists working in radio, television and print media in the capital, Bangui, and a dozen other towns nationwide.
The Network also organizes media ethics workshops and has developed a code of conduct and ethics for reporting. Furthermore, it has trained journalists in covering conflict-related trauma— the psychological damage resulting from deeply distressing experiences or violent acts
Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP)
In 2017, KAICIID supported the launch of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP), which was the result of consultations with over 80 stakeholders and local partners in order to promote more effective and sustainable collaboration in Nigeria. As a locally owned, and legally registered entity, the IDFP works on the promotion of interreligious dialogue for peace in the country, bringing together religious and interreligious actors, with international, governmental and civil society partners. The Forum has succeeded in adopting an interreligious action plan focusing on the establishment of Interfaith Networks as well as five main areas of work: (1) social cohesion, (2) interfaith education, (3) freedom of religion and the protection of holy sites, (4) interfaith exchanges and media sensitisation, and (5) countering hate speech.
- Visits to communities in Kaduna State, Plateau State, Taraba State, Benue State, and Zamfara State affected by tensions between farming and pastoralists groups.
- A high level intra-faith round table meeting on the de-radicalisation of extremist tendencies in Nigeria, resulting in a roadmap and a consensus working document for further implementation by the Muslim community.
- A round table for Muslim and Christian students on the prevention of hate speech.
- A workshop for women which raised awareness on hate speech and incitement to violence, and equipped participants with tools to foster peace.
- Training for 120 Nigerian youth on the positive role of religion in peacebuilding within their communities.
