Religion and Human Rights

In collaboration with Susan Perry, Waddick Doyle (AUP), Ibrahim Salama and Michael Wiener (OHCHR), the Center hosted a conversation on the roles and responsibilities of faith actors in discussions on human rights and peace.

Faith actors from various traditions, known for their genuine interfaith engagement, gave short 10-minute presentations, followed by a roundtable discussion. The event discussed how religious actors can work together to foster peace and advocate for human rights; focusing on questions as: If all religions preach tolerance, solidarity, and compassion, how can/should faith actors lobby for human rights and peace? How can we promote and support interfaith collaborative initiatives and frameworks on the ground to achieve sustainable impact beyond public relations operations?

Critical peer learning conversations are important to generate ideas and build confidence in order to design innovative interfaith public initiatives.

Guest Speakers:

Salek Beloucif is a professor and head of the anesthesia-intensive care department (University of Paris 13 and Avicenne University Hospital). He is also a member of the reflection group and proposal of secularism at the Hight Council for Integration (2012-13), administrator of the program Islam on Sunday mornings on France 2, and recently elected president of the Orientation Council of the Foundation of Islam in France.

Rabbi Yann Boissière is the Founder and President of ‘Voix de la Paix’ (Voices of Peace) which promotes dialogue between religious and non-religious beliefs. He was appointed Secretary General of the IHEMR (Institute for Advanced Studies of the Religious World) and has written several publications.

Michel Thao Chan is a Buddhist monk and Sufi master, who holds five doctorate degrees in biological and medical engineering, physical science, clinical hypnotherapy, metaphysical sciences and finance.  He is open to all forms of spirituality and shares his wisdom at numerous conferences are the world.

Rabbi Alexander Goldberg is a barrister, chaplain, and human rights activist. He is currently the Dean of the College of Chaplains and Coordinating Chaplain at the University of Surrey. He is the only rabbi within this role in Europe. He is currently working on a number of international and UK-based community relations and community development projects and is the Jewish chaplain to the University of Surrey. Alex regularly co-hosts a BBC radio show, a contributor to BBC Radio 2's Pause For Thought and was a member of the BBC's Religion and Ethics Conference.

Christina Weinhold an ordained Pastor (in 1999 by the German Protestant Church). Christina has worked in several Churches including Pastor of the United Protestant Church in Marly le Roi (Yvelines), she became involved in the St Germain en Laye Jewish-Christian friendship committee, and co-founder of friendly meetings between Christian and Muslim women.