During a UN Security Council open debate on 23 April 2015 on “The role of youth in countering violent extremism and promoting peace,” Mr. Ignacio Ybañez, Spain’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, cited the International Dialogue Centre based in Vienna (KAICIID) and its work with religious leaders as one of the multifaceted answers to radicalization processes.

Mr. Ybañez explained that in conflict areas in which urgent action is needed, “a network of religious leaders who advocate for peace should be created.” At the first-ever formal debate on the topic, opened by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and chaired by Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II of Jordan, Spain’s representative added: “KAICIID, with its Board of Directors comprised of religious leaders, is already working in that direction”.

Since its establishment, in 2012, KAICIID works with religious leaders in its peacebuilding activities. In November 2014, for instance, high-level representatives of the major world religious and social institutions denounced with one voice all violence in the name of religion in the Vienna Declaration, and agreed on programs and initiatives that would support religious and cultural diversity in Iraq and Syria. Also in 2014, in separate events, KAICIID gathered religious leaders to support peacebuilding processes in the Central African Republic, and to foster a common citizenship in the Middle East. More recently, in April 2015, the Dialogue Centre discussed in Morroco “The role of religious leaders and faith-based organizations in the prevention of atrocity crimes.”

The importance of the media and an interreligious and intercultural education based on universal values, respect for diversity and human rights were aspects also mentioned by Mr. Ybañez. In this regard, KAICIID’s Image of the Other program addresses both education and the media. Furthermore, KAICIID’s Online Course on Interreligious Dialogue will enhance capacity building in the field.

Many of the more than 60 speakers at the Security Council meeting referred to dialogue as a tool against violent extremism. Representatives of Angola, Benin, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Poland, the Russian Federation and the Holy See mentioned the need to support and foster dialogue, including interreligious and intercultural dialogue. KAICIID uses dialogue in all its strategies and initiatives with the aim of fostering peace and combating radicalization.