World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012

Digital Art by CEDC

Last year February marked the first celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week at the United Nations. On Tuesday February 7, 2012, the President of the General Assembly in cooperation with NGOs will commemorate World Interfaith Harmony Week with an all morning program in the General Assembly Hall under the title Common Ground for the Common Good. 

To follow the February 7th celebration from your own computer, please go to www.un.org/en; then click on “webcast” (in the lower left corner) and choose the appropriate channel.

In its historic resolution – Resolution A/RES/65/5 – which created World Interfaith Harmony Week, the General Assembly states:

Recognizing  that the moral imperatives of all religions, convictions and beliefs call for peace, tolerance and mutual understanding,

1. Reaffirms  that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace;

2. Proclaims  the first week of February every year the World Interfaith Harmony Week between all religions, faiths and beliefs;

3. Encourages  all States to support, on a voluntary basis, the spread of the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during that week, based on love of God and love of one’s neighbour or on love of the good and love of one’s neighbour, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions;


Cecile Meijer, rscj
January 2012