Spirituality and Justice Initiative at the UN in Vienna

Written by Renate Amesbauer, Laleh Ashrafi, and Tamara Starr

On October 7, representatives from ten different faith-based organizations gathered for The Coalition of Faith-based Organizations. The also discussed how the organization plays an important role in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, and in disseminating the UN standards on the treatment of people in prison.

The Coalition of Faith-based Organizations is a new multi-religious platform founded in 2019 with the support of the International Dialogue Center (KAIICID) at the headquarters of the United Nations (UN) in Vienna-Austria.

The following texts inspired the formation of the coalition:

·       The world stands upon three things: upon the Law, upon worship, and upon showing kindness. Judaism, Mishna, Abot 1.2

·       Compassion is the root of all religious faiths. Hinduism. Basavanna, Vacana 247

·       Rendering help to another is the function of all human beings. Jainism, Tattvarthansutta 5.21

·       Then he will say to those at his left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, in the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Christianity, Matthew 25:31-46

·       Where there is forgiveness, there is God Himself.  Sikhism, Adi Granth, Shalok, Kabir, p. 1372

·       Conquer anger by love. Conquer evil by good. Conquer the stingy by giving. Conquer the liar by truth. Buddhism. Dhammapada 223

·       Fulfill the covenant of God once you have pledged it, and do not break any oaths once they have been sworn to. You have set up God as Guarantee for yourselves; God knows everything you are doing.” Islam, Qur’an 16.91

·       The superior man tends to forgive wrongs and deals leniently with crimes. Confucianism, I Ching 40

·       How do you pray that sinners die? Rather pray that they should repent, and thus there will be no more wickedness.”  Judaism, Talmud, Berakot, 10a

·       Lack of respect to the constituted authority is the source of most conflicts in the world. African Traditional Religion, Yoruba Proverb, Nigeria

·       Governance is the function of the ruler in order to protect the state from the wicked and nourish the good. Jainism, Somadeva, Nitivakhamrita 5.1-2

Coalition of faith-based Organizations will consist of civil society representatives, the interreligious Dialogue Center of the Catholic Church and UPF+WFWP. This platform was designed to promote more effectively the role of religions in crime prevention and peace building.

Having faith in individuals, the representatives went on by considering ‘’necessary supports’’ as a driving fact helping victims of crimes and abuse of power, those who seek reconciliation between the society and themselves, to ‘’forgive’’ and move on.

The session concluded with the signing of the Foundation Document of Inter-religious Platform.