Start time 07:00 (New York) / 13:00 (Geneva) / 14:00 (Jerusalem)
GENEVA – On the sidelines of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) brought together a standing-room only of diplomats and faith leaders for a panel discussion exploring the role of religion in advocating against antisemitism and other forms of religious intolerance. It was an important event that brought religious leaders from major faiths sitting together to promote common values.
Moderating the event, Leon Saltiel, WJC Director of Diplomacy and Representative to the UN in Geneva and Tomas Sandell, Founder and Director of the European Coalition for Israel, emphasized the crucial responsibility of religious leaders and communities in addressing today’s rising global challenges, pointing to growing radicalization, increasing religious intolerance, and a sharp surge in antisemitism since October 7, 2023.
Saltiel spoke about the World Jewish Congress’s ongoing work with key interfaith partners, noting the work of its Vatican office and the WJC’s close cooperation with the Muslim World League. He pointed to work being done within the Human Rights Council in Geneva, including the establishment of an interfaith ambassadors’ group that meets regularly and an upcoming visit for UN ambassadors at the Geneva’s Beth Yaakov synagogue.
The event spotlighted a panel of speakers that represent distinct perspectives on faith-based advocacy, including:
- Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, addressed the audience via video message to emphasize that religious leaders must confront hatred within their own communities and promote peace and moral integrity.
- Thomas Schirrmacher, Archbishop, Professor, President of the International Society for Human Rights and Co-President of Religions for Peace, explained that religious leaders shape society’s moral foundations and are uniquely positioned to counter radicalization.
- Swami Vedanishthananda, Spiritual Head and Director, Vedantic Centre in Geneva, drew on Dharmic traditions to stress the need for inherent human dignity and pluralism in order to build bridges based on interfaith dialogue and mutual respect. He proposed that intolerance is overcome not by argument but by example, encouraging members of the audience to think critically in a world full of misinformation and to cultivate meaningful relations across different faiths.
- Mohamed Levrak, President of the Geneva Interreligious Platform, encapsulated the importance of the discussion by stating “Combating antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief is a shared responsibility,” and emphasized that religious leaders and communities must “play a key role in preventing stigmatization, challenging harmful narratives, and promoting a culture of respect.”
- David Fernandez Puyana, Permanent Observer of the University for Peace to the UN in Geneva Office underscored the UN’s commitments to peace-education and spotlighted interreligious initiatives that elevate the goal of religious coexistence, such as the WJC-partnered University for Peace’s master’s program that helps develop young leaders committed to interreligious understanding.
- Michael Wiener, Human Rights Officer at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered closing remarks by highlighting practical initiatives on interfaith cooperation, such as peer-to-peer learning exchanges and annual discussion meetings.
The panel served to reaffirm the WJC’s initiative to advancing interfaith cooperation as an essential tool to counter rising religious intolerance worldwide. By convening diverse faith leaders and diplomatic partners, the WJC continues to uphold the universal right to freedom of religion or belief within the Human Rights Council through initiatives that strengthen understanding and defend human dignity.
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