Our work in Asia
South Asia is home to some of the most religiously diverse countries in the world; however, intercommunal tensions have escalated into acts of violence, such as the attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday 2019. KAICIID facilitates exchanges among religious leaders and faith-based organizations in South and South-East Asia, which are designed to help communities find common solutions to shared problems, such as violent extremism, intercommunal conflict, marginalisation and displacement.
KAICIID’s programmatic work engages religious actors in dialogue, builds their capacity to promote inclusive peace and promotes their collaboration with policymakers and civil society leaders to foster social cohesion.
The Centre’s flagship Fellows programme has trained numerous religious leaders and dialogue practitioners from the region, both through the international programme and the South-East Asia regional cohort.
KAICIID has also convened Buddhist and Muslim leaders to engage in dialogues addressing hate speech, protection of holy sites, and inclusive education.
In Myanmar, KAICIID has supported the Paungsie Metta Initiatives (PMI), one of the largest and most influential interreligious dialogue networks in the country, working to protect marginalised groups and religious minorities. The network is multireligious, led by representatives from the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities, as well as civil society leaders.
The G20 Interfaith Forum
The G20 Interfaith Forum is an annual platform which brings together religious leaders, policymakers, and diverse faith actors to collaborate on global agendas, within the broad framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). KAICIID has been closely involved with the Interfaith Forum since 2017, co-hosting the event in Saudi Arabia in 2020, and with further plans to support the 2022 Summit in Indonesia. The Forum is closely tied to KAICIID’s mandate, which promotes dialogue and cooperation between religious leaders and policymakers on the world’s most pressing humanitarian and development issues.
Social Media Programme
The spread of hate speech and misinformation has fueled violent conflict across Asia. KAICIID’s Social Media as a Space for Dialogue programme seeks to harness the power of social media for good, by teaching religious actors to use their influential platforms to spread peace, recognise early warning signs of violence online and smooth intercommunal tensions through dialogue.
Collaboration with ASEAN
KAICIID is proud to partner with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, equipping religious leaders and policymakers with the transformative power of dialogue. Together we have organized online dialogue sessions for government officials which support conflict prevention and resolution, as well as highlighted the promotion of tolerance, respect for religions, and the resolution of differences and dispute through peaceful means. KAICIID has also supported the ASEAN Youth Interfaith Camp.
Work with Regional Partners
Prior to the government overthrow, KAICIID worked closely with the Paungsie Metta Initiatives (PMI) to address decades of systemic and institutionalised discrimination for religious minorities in Myanmar, as well as heightened security issues. The Centre’s support for the first Interreligious Dialogue Training Centre in Myanmar equipped local faith actors with the tools to advocate peace and uphold human rights. Additionally, KAICIID supported increased engagement between religious and government leaders on inclusive policies.
