NY: Maria Voce Participated to the UN High-Level Thematic Debate on Tolerance and Reconcilation
Ms Maria Voce, President of the focolari Movement – on which spirituality New Humanity inspired its actions – participated to the UN high-level thematic debate (New York, 21-22 April 2015) on tolerance and reconciliation. She presented an Oral Statement on which she underlined the importance of fraternity as an answer to religious extremism and of religions as important actors in the realisation of one universal human family.
For more information:
Video of the Intervention;
Read more on focolare.org
The main objective of the UN high-level thematic debate was to provide an opportunity to share experiences and to address key issues and challenges relating to the promotion of tolerance and reconciliation with the aim of fostering peaceful and inclusive societies and countering violent extremism.
During the second day, a Round-table was animated by various important religious leaders from different geographical areas. During this occasion, also Ms Maria Voce intervened.
During her intervention, the President of the focolari Movement underlined how, if violent extremism exist, «our response must be similarly radical, but one that is structurally different, by which I mean “extremism in dialogue”! A dialogue which rewuires the highest level of engagement which is risky, demanding, challenging and which aim to sever the roots of incomprehension, fear and bitterness.»
Obviously, Ms Maria Voce recalled the New Humanity International NGO activities at the UN and at the UNESCO. At the end of her speech, she also remembered how «the time of “holy wars” is ended. War is never holy, it never has been. God does not want it. Only peace is truly holy, because God himself is peace.» She also underlined the important contribution which religions can give to the realisation to the one universal human family, as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art. 1) and as the main objective of New Humanity International NGO.