Note to Correspondents from the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect: Forum on the Role of Religious Leaders in Preventing Incitement to Violence

[4 March 2016] Working together over two days in Washington, DC, religious leaders and representatives of faith based organisations from the Americas developed an important regional strategy to prevent and counter incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence in the region.  The meeting, on 29 February and 1 March, was convened by the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect in partnership with the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, the United States Institute of Peace and the World Council of Churches. Recent years have seen a significant escalation in tensions among and against groups of different religions or beliefs, which has often resulted in violence. Incidents of violence have been preceded or accompanied by hate speech and incitement, including in public discourse and the social media.  The meeting in Washington was the third in a series of regional meetings aimed at developing strategies to implement the global plan of action for the prevention of incitement developed by religious leaders from around the world in Fez, Morocco, on 23-24 April 2015. Adama Dieng, United Nation Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, noted that “Religious leaders from across the Americas are already taking courageous action to prevent and respond to all forms of racism and incitement to violence based on identity. They must be supported nationally, regionally and internationally.”   The regional strategy developed in Washington included recommendations to map existing initiatives; monitor and publicise acts of hatred and incitement that could lead to violence; develop alternative messages in response to hate speech and hate crimes; build robust multi-faith social action and strategic communication campaigns and develop specific educational tools to promote the values of diversity and respond to incitement to violence. Specific to the Central and South American context, religious actors highlighted the importance of historical memory and truth seeking processes; promoting debates on gender equality within religious institutions; the prevention of gender-based and domestic violence; creating a Central American network aimed at tackling youth violence associated with criminal activity and enhancing the protection of religious leaders who are courageously working to prevent and counter hatred and radicalization. For more information, images or interview opportunities please contact: Simona Cruciani: Cruciani@un.org, +1-917-367-5430