A step forward: New Humanity advocates for Interreligious Dialogue at UNESCO

From December 17 to 19, 2024, New Humanity NGO took part in the UNESCO’s biennial International Conference of NGOs (ICNGO) in Paris. With the theme “Building Capacity for Action,” the event brought together NGO representatives from around the world to discuss collective priorities and elect new members for the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee. For New Humanity, it was a valuable opportunity to advocate for interreligious dialogue and its role in fostering a culture of peace.

On December 18, during a session on UNESCO’s draft Programme and Budget for 2026-2029 (43 C/5), New Humanity and the ‘NGO Group on Interreligious Dialogue’ emphasized the need to integrate interreligious dialogue into UNESCO’s initiatives as a key strategy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This proposal was adopted and incorporated into the collective NGO contribution, marking a significant step toward advancing peacebuilding efforts.

On December 19, Chantal Grevin presented the ‘NGO Group on Interreligious Dialogue’ and its work to other NGOs during the ‘NGO Hub: Sharing Experiences from Around the World.’ Throughout the conference, discussions with UNESCO’s various program sectors highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to promoting a culture of peace. During the event, the ‘Manual for the Participation of NGOs in the Ocean Decade’ was introduced to participants. Thalassia Giaccone, New Humanity’s expert on Integrated Marine Ecology, made an important contribution to this manual.

Dialogues with UNESCO’s program sectors reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to a culture of peace, inspiring New Humanity to continue advocating for meaningful global change.