“My humanity is bound up in yours, as we can only be human together” - Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931-2021) February 3, 2022 marked the tenth anniversary of an interfaith dialogue for the cultivation of culture of peace as a part of World Interfaith Harmony Week, in honor of the 1984 Nobel Prize recipient and Anglican theologian, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  By bringing together multi-stakeholders, performers, spiritual and faith leaders in community dialogue, the event entitled Faith and Spiritual Leadership to Combat Stigma and Conflict During Pandemic Recovery invites reflection, harmonious connection and an orientation towards ‘sustainable happiness’.  The dialogue challenges its participants to unite in solidarity and cooperation with the recognition of our interdependence and shared humanity for the purpose of developing a culture of peace and harmony worldwide.

Title: Faith and Spiritual Leadership to Combat Stigma and Conflict During Pandemic Recovery

Event: World Interfaith Harmony Week Observance at the United Nations 

Date: 03 February 2022 , 3:00PM-5:30PM 

Location: Zoom

Moderator: Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Representative of the International Association of Applied Psychology  

Panelist: Main Sponsor by the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone and Member State co-sponsors, the Missions of Canada, the Kingdoms of Morocco and Bahrain, and the Holy See to the United Nations.  Civil society partner co-sponsors were represented by the dialogue’s guest speakers including Imam Shamsi Ali of Nusantara Foundation, Rabbi Jill Huasman of The Actors Temple, Swami Tyagananda of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society, Venerable Hui Dong of Buddha’s Light International Association, Reverend Dr. Craig Rubano of Unitarian Universalist, Thalia Mintz of Yaqui Nation, Mohammed Nurhussein of United African Congress and Felipe Queipo of the Department of Global Communications, United Nations.  Additional speakers included New York Assemblywoman, Jenifer Rajkumar and Sepideh Behzadpour of the Spiritual Assembly of Bahá'ís of the City of New York.  Mr. Gordon Tapper of the United African Congress and President and Founder of Give Them a Hand Foundation provided the Closing Remarks.