VIENNA, 18 June 2019 - The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos, convened a consultation meeting on 17 June with religious leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations to continue to engage with key stakeholders in the elaboration of the Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, which was requested of him by the United Nations Secretary-General. The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) hosted the meeting at its premises in Vienna with welcoming remarks by the High Representative and KAICID Secretary General Mr. Faisal Bin Muaammar.

The meeting is part of an extensive and inclusive consultative process that the High Representative is embarked upon to ensure that all key stakeholders are able to provide their inputs to an action-oriented Plan that will have an impact to help ensure the safety of worshippers in religious sites. Thus far, the High Representative has met with government officials and religious leaders in Sri Lanka, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Russia, and the Vatican, and has conducted consultations with religious and faith-based organizations and member states in New York as well. This is the fourth such consultation meeting for the Plan of Action. KAICIID also participated in the meeting that took place in New York on May 13th.