Your name (required)
Ambassador Mussie Hailu

Title / Position
Regional Director for Africa and Representative at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Organization
United Religions Initiative- Africa

Country
Ethiopia

Your Message
URI Africa calls Religious Leaders in Africa to observer the World Interfaith Harmony Week
On behalf of its 98 members organizations in over 28 African Countries the United Religions Initiative (URI) Africa calls upon Religious leaders in Africa to celebrate the World Interfaith Harmony Week.
As it is stated by Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, the World Interfaith Harmony Week is an opportunity to focus global attention on the efforts of religious leaders, interfaith movements and individuals around the world to promote mutual respect and understanding between followers of different faiths and beliefs.
With this in mind URI Africa appeals to all Religious Leaders in Africa to spread the message of interfaith harmony by organizing prayer, light candle and promote the teaching of the Golden Rule which says “Treat others the way you want to be treated” as it is the practical action to build Interfaith Harmony, a culture of peace and co-existence in the world
URI Africa welcomes the United Nations General Assembly resolution of 65/5 on World Interfaith Harmony Week. This is what URI members throughout Africa and the rest of the world are working hard to achieve on a daily base. The World Interfaith Harmony Week resonates well with the purpose of URI.
URI Africa is very grateful to His Majesty King Abdullah Il Bin A-Hussein of Jordan for spearheading this timely and important initiative. URI Africa pledges its maximum support in the successful implementation of UNGA 65/5 as well as other resolutions relative to interfaith harmony. The World Interfaith Harmony Week is an opportunity for collective action in pursuit of making the Golden Rule a lived reality.
Responding to the call of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in 2010 Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Regional Director of URI for Africa and Board Chairman of Interfaith Peace-building Initiative sent out a letter of invitation along with the copy of the resolution of the General Assembly to African Union and its 53 members State to celebrate the first World Interfaith Harmony week. The call was made on the occasion of the 16th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Heads of States held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
On the occasion of the celebration of the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, URI Africa congratulated the United Nations for its outstanding effort to make this world a better place for all and URI uphold strongly the purpose of the United Nations and its principle as enshrined in the charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The United Religions Initiative Africa mission is to create a platform in Africa where different religions followers could come together to promote interfaith harmony, the teaching of the Golden Rule, understanding, trust, co-existence, constructive dialogue among different cultures and to make religions a healing force in Africa and build bridges of lasting peace, development and respect.
May Peace and teh Golden Rule Prevail on Earth