Conservation / Nigel Crawhall Advancing Inter-Religious Dialogue Project (SEA-AIR) Initiates Research and Fellowship Activities To Enhance Freedom of Religion or Belief - FoRB in South and South

Advancing Inter-Religious Dialogue Project (SEA-AIR) Initiates Research and Fellowship Activities To Enhance Freedom of Religion or Belief - FoRB in South and Southeast Asia

Philip Gassert

he summer of 2019 saw the first major activities for The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers (The Network) European Union-funded consortium project “Southeast Asia – Advancing InterReligious Dialogue and Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) (SEAAIR).” The activities contributed to the project’s overall objective of creating a conducive environment for protecting FoRB and peaceful co-existence of communities with different religious affiliations throughout Southeast Asia.

In July, Te Network conducted an Expert Seminar, which included 23 participants from four South and Southeast Asian countries representing areas of expertise related to FoRB such as gender, Islamophobia, hate speech, and international human rights law. World Faiths Development Dialogue (WFDD) produced a summary brief on FoRB in South and Southeast Asia, as well as fve country-specifc FoRB briefs to lay the foundation for the topics discussed at the seminar. Participants paid particular attention in country to regional analysis to topics such as majorityminority relations, spreading of hate speech, religious nationalism and the role of women, and their link to FoRB. Te objectives and methodology were a part of a larger aim to make positive contributions to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 16.

“Religion’s for Peace (RFP) and its local afliate Institute of Human Rights and Peace (IHRP) Studies at Mahidol University were the lead organizations for this activity. RfP/IHRP drafed the seminar agenda and concept note, with input from all other consortium members: WFDD, Finn Church Aid (FCA), Sathirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation (SNF)/ International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) and Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW).” Te Expert Seminar served primarily as a platform for researchers, human rights activists and peace practitioners who currently work to promote and protect FoRB in South and Southeast Asia to exchange and share their experience and research. Te main objectives of the seminar were:

1) to draw on cutting edge global research and methods about FoRB and social cohesion and its applicability to the Southeast and South Asian regions, as well as expertise and knowledge; 2) to explore recommendations and advice for stakeholders, which will help the development of in-depth resources, such as policy papers, and inform the project and overall methods for implementing FoRB and social cohesion activities, as well as future research initiatives for all participants;

Key Learnings

3) to identify research gaps for current knowledge and suggest priority research areas for the future.

In July, the Network kicked of the Interfaith Fellowship Program by selecting 60 grassroots change makers from 10 countries: Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Tailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. From August 5th to the 9th; and 10th to the 14th, Network staf conducted the Interfaith Fellowship Workshops with cohorts of 30 and 25 Fellows respectively at Wongsanit Ashram outside Bangkok. Arrangements are underway to remotely train the fve Fellows who were unable to attend due to visa application delays or health concerns. Fellows took part in trainings and activities focused on FoRB and religion’s role in confict, mediation, communication, peer learning, deep listening, inter- and intrafaith dialogue, analysis, and process design. Tey shared their personal and professional experiences working in inter/intrafaith harmony and FoRB activism. Within each cohort, in Fellows from Bangladesh

groups of 4 to 8, Fellows analysed specifc case studies to identify challenges to FoRB and the issues and actors involved, and design activities in response to advance FoRB and social cohesion. Case study presentations included the following: attacks on Hindu families in Bangladesh by Muslims due to hate speech online; challenges to FoRB and violence against Muslim communities since 2014 in Sri Lanka; the Easter Sunday attack in Sri Lanka; confict in Nagaland, India; women’s rights, FoRB and confict resulting from a Christian woman asking for water from a Muslim woman in Pakistan; and the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. Troughout the workshops, Network staf gathered further information on Fellows’ areas of expertise, interests and goals for the Fellowship program to begin a process of identifying areas of collaboration between Fellows. Tey will also be assigned in groups to Mentors from the Network who will provide recommendations on ways to expand their work and networks throughout the Fellowship program. Te Network will conduct follow-up Fellowship Workshops in early 2020 as part of the 18-month Fellowship Program.

.......................................................................................... Philip Gassert - Project Manager for Te Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers based in Bangkok.