Religious leaders’ plea to member states: Honor your commitment to the UN

MOSCOW, JERUSALEM/ BEIRUT/ NEW DELHI/ TOKYO:

warned that the organization would be running out of money by the end of This is the same institution, whose - -

The United Nations was created to “reaffirm faith … in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small… and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom…”

It is often forgotten that the purposes of the United Nations, are in alignment with the values of all faith traditions. It is also forgotten that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was predicated upon the values shared by all faith traditions.

As faith leaders, we have our temples, mosques, churches, synagogues

proven time and again, are impossible to replace. Indeed, our religious institutions significantly predate most member states of the United Nations.

Our faiths call upon us to believe in that which is transcendental and otherworldly, and to serve every living being to live in peace and dignity. Through

to appreciate the value of coming together on what we agree, to serve all regardless of any, and all, differences.

And in the countless efforts to do so, we appreciate and respect the challenges of convening the diversity of divine creation around a set of shared values and purposes.

That is why we appreciate and the United Nations system.

The United Nations was created, respect is

are critical rights’ holders of members of themselves know that to uphold the rights

- scending their own singular capabilities. to capture in any institution. Yet it is precisely that humility and grandeur which is required by “we the peoples”

- preciate and honor an institution built

and political representations. - cialized agency of the UN, led the charge

the UN division focused on child welfare, says it has helped save the lives of more

Over the last two and a half decades, the UN has assisted in efforts to help

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billion people access improved sources of drinking water. These accomplishments matter for billions of people.

As people of faith, and as pragmatists who lead respective institutions, we must

to serve these very same responsibilities

Our faith institutions have long served those needs. But the lesson learned time and again, is that our religious institutions, also, are neces

Our faiths call upon us, in different ways, essentially, “to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to words of the UN Charter.

Precisely because we are faith leaders, from all faiths, from different corners of the world, with the longest legacy of serving communities, we can say with utter conviction, that our world needs a United Nations.

continue to sweep our shores, as massive

the largest number of displaced people ever, stand at the gates of many of our nations while multitudes perish seeking

multilateral space, is a moral imperative.

As leaders representing the only platform of all faith institutions, from all over the world, we, members of Religions governments who owe their dues, to uphold the rights of all peoples, by honoring the commitment towards the only