Press Release – The Sovereign Order Of Malta
Religions Together for Humanitarian Action.
The Order of Malta in Rome has organized the symposium “Religions Together for Humanitarian Action” which will take place on the 27th of May in Geneva. Participants include academics and religious leaders who will meet in the United Nations to prepare for the World Humanitarian Summit to be held next year in Istanbul on the initiative of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and of the Sovereign Order of Malta. The idea is to make assessments and seek a common humanitarian strategy. The themes will include the contribution of religious organizations in the theatres of war and the role of religions in promoting reconciliation and strengthening resilience.
The Sovereign Order of Malta’s Mission.
Providing humanitarian aid to victims of armed conflicts and protecting the most vulnerable civilians are at the heart of the Sovereign Order of Malta’s traditional mission. Affected refugees are increasing at an alarming rate in war torn areas. In armed conflict, 90% of deaths are those of civilians. The symposium will particularly focus on how religions and faith-based humanitarian actors can reach out to better protect those affected by wars. It also aims to promote the peaceful solution of conflicts, thus limiting the spiral cycle of violence. Religious organizations are often in fact the first on the spot and the last to leave, thus gaining the trust of local communities. This inter-religious humanitarian intervention expects to promote resounding peace which may be brought forth to nations near and far.
