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The Great Lakes Inter-Religious Network (GLIRN) Dialogue Meeting, March 2010 “Strengthening Multi- Religious Efforts for Peace Building, Sustainable Development and Reconciliation”
Concept Note
Faith-based institutions, both local and international, play very important roles as contributors to peace building, sustainable development and reconciliation in many zones of conflict. One of the most important findings of cross-cultural conflict resolution research is that religion is a perennial and perhaps inevitable factor in both conflict resolution and reconciliation.
The Great Lakes Inter Religious Network occupies a centre stage in agenda setting of conflict mitigation, sustainable development and reconciliation in the Great Lakes Region and greater horn of Africa.
The Great Lakes Inter Religious Network (GLIRN) is an organ established under the auspices of the African Inter Religious Council to oversee the implementation of coordinated peace building and conflict transformation activities by the Inter-Religious councils and leaders within the Great lakes region. The working committee is composed of members of the respective national inter-religious councils within the region.
Other than Tanzania, all the other countries in the Great Lakes region including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic republic of Congo and Sudan, have been engulfed in a wave of interstate and intrastate conflicts in the recent past. The impact of these conflicts on people and environment has been tremendous; the number of refugees and internally displaced people has combined with environmental destruction to emerge as the single threat to economic development, democracy and sustainable livelihoods.
The Great Lakes Inter Religious Network impact may be measured not only in formal statements and public decrees, but also in the greater ease of relationships between communities evidenced in their increased crave for dialogue as opposed to confrontational approaches in resolving issues.
This concept paper is written against the background that while the Great Lakes Region has gone through a treacherous past, there have been tremendous efforts to mediate these conflicts and the role of religious leaders as mediators and facilitators of peace agreements has been wholesome.
Even though most of the major conflicts such as the Northern Uganda by LRA, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Southern Sudan are being transformed, there are scary challenges of building war torn societies hence the evident and urgent need for peace building and reconciliation.
Challenges of Peace building in war torn societies
· Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); The region is faced with increasing numbers of refugees and IDPs living in very pathetic conditions where they have been exposed to secondary victimization of human rights abuses, diseases, food shortage and violence.
· Poverty; Persistent poverty constituted of social vulnerability and exploitation which has mainly claimed the youth as the majority population group.
· Proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the region which has minimized utilization and access to land worse still leading to loss of thousands of lives.
· Strive for natural resources in the DRC, in Uganda and elsewhere in the region, has created and still leaves space for potential conflict which needs timely strategies of intervention to prevent violent conflict.
· Governance Issues; where the region is faced with insurgency, lack of a state in Somalia and those with states are struggling with weak and institutions/instruments to institute good governance.
· Ethnic cleverages; which have been used to fuel conflicts for personal gains.
· Colonial legacy; whose remnants continue to linger and foster divisions in the region.
Therefore the need for peace building, sustainable development and reconciliation is evident and urgent hence the proposal by Great Lakes Inter Religious Network to host the second Regional Dialogue Meeting to address some of the post conflict needs.
The Problem Statement
The Great Lakes Region has a shared identity brought on by the common points of reference including; political structures & relations; socio-economic strata and multi-faceted ethnic/tribal and religious persuasions within each country. This shared identity forms a platform for creating and strengthening the inter-religious network through IRC’s.
This region has suffered armed conflict and struggles both intermittently (in some countries such as Rwanda and Burundi) and persistently (in other countries such as Sudan and DRC) along tribal/ethnic, religious and national lines. The proliferation of small arms and light weapons obviously contributes significantly in instigating, fueling and sustaining these conflicts. There is thus need to urgently and strongly address the challenge of Small arms & Light Weapons Proliferation and the ensuing consequences.
Religious Leaders, as we know, hold an essential and irreplaceable role in the process of either starting or dissuading conflicts. They wield influence and have been offered a platform to direct the course of society. Therefore, no group of leaders is better placed to advance shared security (by collaborative peace building and conflict transformation) in the Great lakes Region. Stronger still, is the positive effect and impact that can be experienced through inter-faith action towards this process.
The Youth have been the main perpetrators of these conflicts in the Great Lakes Region, either through misguided beliefs; coercion (e.g. forced recruitment of child soldiers); expected economic benefits and other such reasons. Furthermore, this age group constitutes the largest percentage of the regions’ population. Understandably, significant advances in the peace process cannot be achieved without the deliberate and positive inclusion of these young men and women. Youth leaders (more so, Religious Youth Leaders) have the capacity to mobilize, involve, teach and recruit other youth in the peace building & conflict transformation process – the best person to reach out to youth is a fellow youth. Youth Leaders can stand alongside their Senior Religious Leaders to speak out in one voice and positively shape their community. This is the rationale of the involvement of various youth leaders in the GL-IRN Conference, that also will be used to Lauch the Arms Down Campaign.
The role of Religious Leaders in Peace Building, Sustainable Development and Reconciliation
The paradox is the fact that religion is a source of intolerance, human rights violation and extremist violence yet at the same time is a fountain of conflict transformation, respect and defense for human rights, good governance and reconciliation. Courageous religious leaders have played invaluable functions in neutralizing conflict in their communities and this has subsequently contributed to the bigger peace in the region.
Religious institutions own a greater percentage of the region’s education, health, media, and various social facilities/services which are uniquely self sustaining and thus contribute enormously to growth and development which are embedded in peace.
Religious leaders have always been the prophetic voice of the people thus the role of religion has been and still remains central to peace building, reconciliation and sustainable development.
The issue of reconciliation is certainly one of the most sensitive in the region. However, the Great Lakes region is endowed with rich culture, natural resources, and diverse people with great leeway to realize peace, development and reconciliation if efforts to strengthen and deepen multi-religious approaches are maximized.
One tool which can be used effectively to campaign against the proliferation of small arms is the active participation by various leaders in the Arms Down! Campaign on Disarmament; which we can encourage during the GL-IRN Conference / Arms Down! Campaign Launch.
Hence emphasis shall be laid on multi-religious cooperation in the peace process within this region, through the GL-IRN Conference/ Arms Down! Campaign Launch.
GLIRN is aware that:
· One of the hardest things for a region, nation or a society to do is to come to grips with the evils it has done.
· The reconciliation part comes from addressing a point of pain or silence or frustration between our communities, and addressing it together.
· With the effect of the wrongs softened or reversed, a new relationship can be started on a firmer and more truthful footing, and transformation takes place.
· Reconciliation does not come easy. It's not just a political struggle; it's psychological, personal, and also spiritual. Just about everyone has had something done to them, and has done something to someone. A lot of suffering has been caused. A lot of walls have been built, but we can stand up and start afresh.
· Justice and order are important aspects of peace-building in a post-conflict situation where there is a need to end violence, disarm combatants, restore the rule of law, deal with the perpetrators of war crimes and other human rights abuses, the need to overcome or transform the enmities developed during a violent conflict and “build bridges between ordinary people” suggests a need for reconciliation
The Great Lakes Region member states should come to a point where they can declare that:
· We, the people of great lakes region, of many ethnic groups as we are, make a commitment to go on together in a spirit of reconciliation.
· Our region has the courage to own the truth, to heal the wounds of its past so that we can move on together at peace with ourselves.
· Reconciliation must live in the hearts and minds of all people in the region. Many steps will have to be taken as we learn our shared histories.
· As we walk the journey of healing, one part of the region apologizes and expresses its sorrow and sincere regret for the injustices of the past, so the other part accepts the apologies and forgives.
· We desire a future where all great lakes region nationals will enjoy their rights, accept their responsibilities, and have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. With reconciliation, we build for the future.
Specific Objectives
· To enhance the work of inter religious communities for peace and reconciliation and regional solidarity through sharing information, experiences and best practices.
· To identify major challenges hindering multi-religious efforts for peace, reconciliation and solidarity in the great lakes region.
· To strengthen inter-religious efforts and strategies in peace building, reconciliation and furthering regional solidarity
· To Lauch the ‘Arms Down Campaign”
Expected Outputs;
1. Report of the previously agreed upon action points for the GLIRN and participants to share best experiences on peace and reconciliation.
2. Participants to clearly identify their role in furthering regional solidarity and reconciliation.
3. Participants to come up with strategies for initiating, furthering and implementing regional solidarity, peace and reconciliation efforts using a faith based approach.
4. Participants to identify challenges in fostering peace, reconciliation and solidarity.
5. Participants to come up with concrete action plans for the next year in their respective inter religious councils.
6. Launch Arms Down Campaign in the Conference and commitments by the senior religious leaders, institutions and youths representatives against the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Participation
The invited Conference participants include senior religious leaders, youth representatives and/or technical staffs from:-;
· Religions for Peace-NY
· The African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL)
· All African Conference of Churches
· African Youth Trust Program
· Global Network of Religious Children
· Inter-religious Religious Council of Uganda
· Inter-religious Council of Tanzania
· Inter-religious Council of DRC CONGO
· Inter-religious Council of Kenya
· Inter-religious Council of Burundi
· Inter-religious Council of Rwanda
· Interreligious Council of Sudan
· Focolare Africa
· World Christian Student Federation
· Pax Romana Africa
· OAIC youth representative
· Hindu Council of Africa
· FECCLAHA
Great Lakes Inter-religious
Network Member Countries
Rwanda Burundi Kenya Tanzania
Sudan Uganda
The Democratic Republic of Congo
