A New Era for FoRB and the SDGs

Written by Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers

In his 2024 UN report, Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the alarming reality that only 17% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track. The interconnected nature of today’s challenges calls for innovative leadership, particularly from youth, in advancing peace and development. Young people, especially those of faith, are increasingly recognized for their critical role in fostering resilience, preventing conflict, and sustaining peace due to their deep connections with local communities.

In building upon the imperative role of youth, JISRA) a five-year Dutch-funded consortium comprised of Mensen met een Missie, Tearfund, Search for Common Ground, Faith to Action, and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, organized a youth advocacy mission to New York during the 2024 United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF). Facilitating youth participation and leadership from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali and Indonesia within the UN HLPF space ensured intersectional representation, helped to bridge the gap between global policymakers and local realities, and empowered local actors with a sense of ownership in contributing to global policies.

Training and engagement

Capacity strengthening in advocacy and lobbying efforts ahead of the HLPF was essential for young people to advocate confidently and effectively for their goals during their attendance. Led by Search for Common Ground, a training in the ‘Common Ground Approach to Advocacy’ provided a space for youth participants before and during the HLPF to learn and practice core advocacy skills that served them during the HLPF and beyond.

Throughout the week-long mission, youth engaged in conversations between Track 1, 1.5, and 2.0 on critically developing local solutions, including a meeting with the Dutch Mission to the United Nations, showcasing the imperative work of the JISRA youth and reaffirming appreciation to the Dutch government for their continued support of the JISRA project. In addition, youth attended a networking session with over 50 members of the Global Coalition on Youth Peace and Security, hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This networking opportunity allowed for youth from across the globe to share details on the work they are leading to advance peace and to find out how they could join the Global Coalition and contribute to shaping Youth, Peace and Security policies in New York. Youth also participated and engaged in the Multi-faith Advisory Council Side Event, “Interfaith Collaboration as a Model for Other Sectors,” with speakers representing diverse faith communities.

Showcasing Youth-Led initiatives

Furthermore, the JISRA project hosted a side event on the theme of, “Bridging Divides and Building Peace – Youth, FoRB and the SDGs.” Providing a platform for youth dialogue on FoRB and SDG 16 on ‘Promote Peaceful and Inclusive Societies’, this side event showcased experiences, challenges and opportunities of young people from diverse religious, cultural and geographic backgrounds. The side event began with opening remarks by Ambassador Rashad Hussain, the United States Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom and Ms. Ivy Koek, Representative to the UN for Soka Gakkai International. The event then transitioned into a panel discussion with four JISRA youth representatives including, Mushin Kaduyu Nuwagaba, Founder and Director of Allied Muslim Youth Uganda, Anissa Fitria, Senior Learning Officer for Peace Generation Indonesia, Haleemah Ahmad, Executive Director and Founder of Acres of Peace and Seybou Sultan, Consortium Coordinator for JISRA in Mali, as well as Ms. Ana Carolina De Almeida Kobe, Human Rights Officer for the UN Office on the Prevention of Genocide.

Setting a new standard for Youth Inclusion

As further exemplified by Ms. Kobe, “the enthusiasm, the ideas and the desire of young people to have a safer world matter. As we share the responsibility to create a better future, I encourage youth to be as creative and bold as they can not only to express themselves but also to hold adults and institutions accountable for their commitments to include young people’s perspectives on issues related to human rights, SDGs and violence prevention.” Click here to read more on key messages from the side event.

The JISRA HLPF Youth Advocacy Mission set a powerful precedent for youth inclusion in global peace and development efforts. By continuing to empower and support young leaders, the global community can collectively advance towards achieving the SDGs and building a more just and peaceful world for all.

Faith to Action Network is an interfaith organisation which focuses on peaceful co-existence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender equality and women’s rights.

Mensen met een Missie aims to facilitate dialogue between people on each side of a conflict, to decrease hatred and mistrust globally in order to create a world without violence. 

SFCG aims to transform the way the world deals with conflict: from adversarial approaches to collaborative solutions.

Tearfund is a global Christian charity that works with churches, faith groups and local communities to address the effects and systemic causes of violent conflict and bring lasting peace for themselves, their neighbours and their society. Tearfund Netherlands and Tearfund UK are both consortium partners, and hold similar values and ways of working as they seek to reduce poverty and injustice in the world.

CAFOD works in many conflict-affected fragile states on development challenges in a variety of areas, including peacebuilding, governance, and capacity strengthening.

EECMY-DASSC is a church development agency, which works in a variety of areas ranging from Child and Youth Care to Health.

EIFDDA is an alliance of ten major Faith Based Organization (FBOs) who bring multi-faith perspectives in promoting peaceful co-existence.

The EKHCDC aims to provide holistic and sustainable development for an empowered community; its programmes ranging from water and sanitation to disaster prevention.

EOC-DICAC represents the development department of the Orthodox Church in Ethiopia, which makes it a large and influential organization. EOC-DICAC aims to create a just society where everyone has access to basic services. They do this by tackling the root causes of poverty, namely drought and conflict.

EMWACDC uses a church-based and community-based approach to encourage ownership and sustainability within a variety of projects, ranging from HIV/AIDS to economic empowerment.

EMDA is part of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, and focusses on mobilising Muslim leaders in changing harmful behaviour.

EMRADA concerns itself with poverty reduction in pastoral and remote areas of rural communities.

ECFE is made of different evangelical denominations, and aims to promote peacebuilding and freedom of religion and belief.

The IIA aims to provide sustainable solutions for Muslim communities’ spiritual, social and economic problems.

The IRCE consists of seven major religious denominations and aims to promote peaceful coexistence and collaboration between different religious communities.

The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) Indonesia, has been a pioneer of peace education for women at the grassroots level, conducting community organising through women's groups and conducting national and international advocacy related to Women, Peace and Security.

The Institute for Interfaith Dialogue in Indonesia (DIAN Institute) or better known as Interfidei (Institute for Inter-Faith Dialogue in Indonesia), was founded in 1991 by the theologian, thinker and humanist Dr. Th. Sumartana, together with a number of figures with different backgrounds and strong social-religious commitment.

“Fahmina” means our understanding, our reasoning, or our perspective on religious texts and social reality, or our understanding of being Indonesian.

Fatayat NU is one of the autonomous bodies of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and was formed for young women.

The gusdurian network is a synergy arena in practical, cultural and non-political spaces. The network includes individuals, local communities/forums, and organisations who feel inspired by Gus Dur's example of values, thoughts, and struggles.

Imparsial was founded by 18 human rights workers in 2002. Imparsial is taken from the word impartiality: a mandate to defend every victim of human rights violations regardless of social origin, gender, ethnicity or race, as well as political and religious beliefs.

The MOSINTUWU Institute is an association of people working for peace efforts during conflict and post-conflict in the Poso Regency (Central Sulawesi) area and its surroundings.

Muhammadiyah through the JISRA programme invites interfaith communities in Indonesia to build a strong and inclusive community where religious actors become supporters of Freedom of Religion and Belief (FORB) and peace.

The establishment of Nasyi'atul Aisyiyah (NA) cannot be separated from the history of Muhammadiyah itself which is very concerned about the continuity of the cadres, particularly young women, who continue the struggle for better education

Peacegen teach peace to Educators, Parents, Community leaders and young people through creative media and activities across Indonesia and beyond.

Women Empowerment Organization (WEO) is a women-led, national NGO in Iraq, devoted to empowering women socially, economically, and politically. WEO delivers services in the sectors of Protection, Livelihoods, Advocacy, and Humanitarian.

PFO is a non-profit organisation whose primary focus is on promoting peacebuilding, freedom, human rights, and transitional justice, and it has recently expanded its scope to include the pressing issue of climate change.

CYU aims to engage communities in security, peace building, and democratisation processes by influencing national and county level legislative and policy frameworks on democracy, peace, and security.

The CICC is an interfaith organisation which uses intra- and interfaith dialogue to promote peace, security, and development.

The IRCK is a national coalition of all major faith communities in Kenya, which aims to promote peace and governance, health and social well-being, and environmental protection and education, through interfaith collaboration.

KECOSCE works in coastal Kenya by capacity building and increasing the empowerment of women and youth in economic and governmental areas.

The KMYA aims to empower young Muslims through constructive engagement and participation in a democratic, healthy, peaceful and just society.

MUHURI focuses on human rights of marginalised groups, particularly in coastal and northern Kenya, and documents gross human rights violations as well as raise awareness on human rights and constitutionalism.

The SUPKEM is an umbrella body of all Muslim institutions, and aims to decrease poverty, empower the marginalised, and increase partnerships with government institutions.

From it's French name Réseau Islam Population et Développement, RIPOD is a network of all kinds of Muslim religious leaders, interested in peace and fighting violent extremism.

From the French name Mouvement des Cadres et Responsables Chrétiens, the MCRC aims to promote peace through inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, focusing mainly on Christian lay executives and male and female leaders.

From it's French name Jeunesse En Mission, JEM aims to be involved in all spheres of society for the holistic well-being of individuals and their communities.

CAFOD works in many conflict-affected fragile states on development challenges in a variety of areas, including peacebuilding, governance, and capacity strengthening.

DIWA is an Islamic organisation which aims to reduce inequality and religious extremism, and increase opportunities of disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.

DREP Centre bring youth, women, leaders, and other grassroots members of various religious, political and ethnic groups together in order to promote trust, reconciliation, and peace building. 

FOMWAN is an umbrella organisation for Muslim women’s associations in Nigeria, and works to promote (female) education on all levels, and increase women’s socioeconomic opportunities. 

JPRM provides a space for rural community members to discuss issues such as economic development, social justice, peace promotion, public and community health matters, education, Christian-Muslim relations and community conflict management strategies.

RURCON is an interdenominational organisation which promotes sustainable peace in communities, works against substance abuse, and supports dialogues between farmers and herders. 

SUWA includes community actors in intra-, inter-, and extra-religious engagement on a variety of issues, including health, sex – and gender based violence, and economic empowerment.

WIC aims to bring leaders and members of women’s faith groups together to address peace and conflict, women’s common concerns such as health, literacy, and environment, and poverty-related issues. It also includes youths in building a harmonious interfaith coexistence.

ARLPI is an organisation consisting of several different religious denominations and aims to bring Christians and Muslims together to work on peace, reconciliation, and cooperation between different faiths.

CUO-TEDDO aims to promote sustainable and holistic community development in several areas, such as gender and social justice, governance and social accountability, and water, sanitation and hygiene, to women and youth.

MCJIL focuses on justice, human rights, peace, good governance, and rule of law through promotion of public interest, civil liberties, and obligations under the law.

TERELEPAR is an inter-religious organisation, which aims to promote a culture of non-violence and respect of human rights through peacebuilding, human rights advocacy, and conflict transformation.

UJCC works to enhance social and economic transformation in a holistic, efficient, and sustainable manner by advocating for good governance, peace building and community service. 

WUFBON is an interfaith network, which addresses a variety of issues through advocacy, experience sharing, and networking.