Developed over a decade through international dialogue and consultation, the Peace Charter for Forgiveness & Reconciliation was officially launched at the House of Lords in Westminster, London. GNNSJ hosted the 3rd Peace Forum with speeches from internationally renowned peace-builders.
Developed over a decade of international dialogue and consultation, the Peace Charter for Forgiveness & Reconciliation was launched at the 3rd Peace Forum held on 21 November 2022 at the House of Lords in Westminster, London. The distinguished venue, at the heart of democracy, provided an appropriate backdrop for the Peace Charter’s unveiling.
At the event, the Charter’s Preamble and 18 Principles were discussed through sessions that exemplified applicability. In particular, the issues of peacebuilding and climate change were discussed through an alternative lens of forgiveness and reconciliation so that they could be demonstrated to as pivotal processes for societies worldwide.
The launch of the Peace Charter marked the culmination of more than a decade of international consultation, symposia and seminars between profound thinkers and peace practitioners across a spectrum of secular and religious standpoints. In particular, the event aimed to raise awareness amongst civic leaders and parliamentarians about positive social outcomes where forgiveness and reconciliation are both identified and astutely implemented as core values to guide peace-building processes.
During the proceedings, Fiona Bruce MP, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief joined the event hosts, The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, the Lord Bishop of Coventry and Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia OBE KSG, Co-Convener of the Peace Charter and spiritual leader of the Sikh faith-based organisation, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha. Speakers from the dynamic and highly experienced
global delegation included:
- Professor Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace International, a key partner for the Peace Charter;
- Canon Sarah Snyder, Founding Director of the Rose Castle Foundation;
- His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, the first Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London;
- Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi, Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers;
- Dr Chinmay Pandya, Pro Vice Chancellor, South Asian Institute of Peace and Reconciliation;
- Dr. Carl Stauffer, senior expert on reconciliation for the U.S. Institute of Peace.
‘I commit to continuing to work together to make the Peace Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation, a widely known, trusted, and often used framework for engagement in actively building peace in every corner of our world.’ – Professor Azza Karam, Religions for Peace.
‘If ever there was ever an international currency for peace and prosperity in our lives, it would be the currency of values that are sacred to us as humans. It is this impactful, yet invisible, currency of values that inspires the Peace Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation…. As we edge towards a point of no return, a time has come for values and virtues like forgiveness to fully crystallise within our psyches and inform how we partner and plan to meet the unprecedented challenges before us.’ – Bhai Sahib Ji, Co-Convenor & Co-Chair, Peace Charter for Forgiveness & Reconciliation.
“I think about peace, forgiveness and reconciliation a lot, both as a personal desire and one for the world. It is encouraging and reassuring to know there is a charter dedicated to these purposes. It feels like a wonderful starting point, a resource and a guide for anyone and everyone, wherever they are in the world, whose aim is to move beyond conflict.” – James Davies, University of Oxford, Peace Forum participant.
