2016 International Conference on Ethnic and Religious Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding

3rd Conference on Ethnic and Religious Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding

Conference Synopsis

ICERM believes that conflicts involving religion create exceptional environments where both unique barriers (constraints) and resolution strategies (opportunities) emerge. Regardless of whether religion exists as the source of conflict, ingrained cultural ethos, shared values and mutual religious beliefs have the ability to substantially affect both the process and outcome of conflict resolution.

Relying on various case studies, research findings, and practical lessons learned, the 2016 Annual International Conference on Ethnic and Religious Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding aims to investigate and promote the shared values in the Abrahamic religious traditions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The conference is intended to serve as a proactive platform for a continued discussion on and dissemination of information about the positive, prosocial roles that religious leaders and actors with shared Abrahamic traditions and values have played in the past and continue to play in strengthening social cohesion, peaceful settlement of disputes, interfaith dialogue & understanding, and the mediation process. The conference will highlight how the shared values in Judaism, Christianity and Islam could be utilized to foster a culture of peace, enhance the mediation and dialogue processes and outcomes, and educate the mediators of religious and ethno-political conflicts as well as policymakers and other state and non-state actors working to reduce violence and resolve conflict.

The Needs, Problems and Opportunities

The theme and activities of the 2016 conference are highly needed by the conflict resolution community, faith groups, policymakers, and the general public, especially at this time when the media headlines are saturated by the negative views about religion and the impact of religious extremism and terrorism on national security and peaceful co-existence. This conference will serve as a timely platform to showcase the extent to which the religious leaders and faith based actors from the Abrahamic religious traditions —Judaism, Christianity and Islam – work together to foster a culture of peace in the world. As the role of religion in both intra and inter-state conflict continues to persist, and in some cases even heighten, mediators and facilitators are charged with reevaluating how religion can be used to countermand this trend in order to both address conflict and positively impact the overall conflict resolution process. Because the underlying assumption of this conference is that the Abrahamic religious traditions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam – possess a unique power and shared values that could be utilized to promote peace, it is necessary that the conflict resolution community dedicates substantial research resources toward understanding the extent to which these religions and faith based actors can positively influence conflict resolution strategies, processes and outcomes. The conference hopes to create a balanced model of conflict resolution that can be replicated for ethno-religious conflicts globally.

Main Objectives

  • Study and reveal the ingrained cultural ethos, shared values and mutual religious beliefs in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
  • Provide an opportunity for participants from the Abrahamic religious traditions to reveal the peace-driven values in their religions and explain how they experience the sacred.
  • Investigate, promote and disseminate information about the shared values in the Abrahamic religious traditions.
  • Create a proactive platform for a continued discussion on and dissemination of information about the positive, prosocial roles that religious leaders and faith based actors with shared Abrahamic tradition and values have played in the past and continue to play in strengthening social cohesion, peaceful settlement of disputes, interfaith dialogue & understanding, and the mediation process.
  • Highlight how the shared values in Judaism, Christianity and Islam could be utilized to foster a culture of peace, enhance the mediation and dialogue processes and outcomes, and educate the mediators of religious and ethno-political conflicts as well as policymakers and other state and non-state actors working to reduce violence and resolve conflict.
  • Identify opportunities for including and utilizing shared religious values in the mediation processes of conflicts with religious components.
  • Explore and articulate the unique characteristics and resources that Judaism, Christianity and Islam bring to the peacemaking process.
  • Provide a proactive platform from which continued research into the diverse roles religion and faith based actors can play in conflict resolution could develop and thrive.
  • Help participants and the general public find unforeseen commonalities in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
  • Develop lines of communications between and among hostile parties.
  • Promote peaceful coexistence, interfaith dialogue, and joint collaboration.

Thematic Areas

Papers for presentation and activities at the 2016 annual conference will focus on the following four (4) thematic areas.

  • Interfaith Dialogue: Engaging in religious and interfaith dialogue can increase understanding and enhance sensitivity to others.
  • Shared Religious Values: Religious values can be introduced to help parties find unforeseen commonalities.
  • Religious Texts: Religious texts can be leveraged on to explore shared values and traditions.
  • Religious Leaders and Faith-Based Actors: Religious leaders and faith-based actors are uniquely positioned to build relationships that could develop trust between and among parties. By encouraging dialogue and enabling joint collaboration, faith-based actors have a powerful potential to affect the peacebuilding process (Maregere, 2011 cited in Hurst, 2014).

Activities and Structure

  • Presentations – Keynote speeches, distinguished speeches (insights from the experts), and panel discussions – by invited speakers and authors of accepted papers.
  • Theatrical and Dramatic Presentations – Performances of musicals/concert, plays, and choreographic presentation.
  • Poetry and Debate – Students’ poem recitation contest and debate competition.
  • “Pray for Peace” – “Pray for Peace” is a multi-faith, multi-ethnic and global peace prayer recently initiated by ICERM as an integral part of its mission and work, and as a way to help restore peace on earth. “Pray for Peace” will be used to conclude the 2016 annual international conference and shall be co-officiated by the religious leaders of Judaism, Christianity and Islam present at the conference.
  • Award Dinner – As a regular course of practice, ICERM gives honorary awards each year to nominated and selected individuals, groups and/or organizations in recognition for their extraordinary achievements in areas related to the mission of the organization and the theme of the annual conference.

Anticipated Outcomes and Benchmarks for Success

Outcomes/Impact:

  • A balanced model of conflict resolution will be created, and it will take into consideration the roles of religious leaders and faith based actors, as well as includes and utilizes the shared values in the Abrahamic religious traditions in the peaceful resolution of ethno-religious conflicts.
  • Mutual understanding increased; sensitivity to others enhanced; joint activities & collaborations fostered; and the type and quality of relationship enjoyed by participants and the targeted audience transformed.
  • Publication of the conference proceedings in the Journal of Living Together to provide resources to and support the work of researchers, policymakers and conflict resolution practitioners.
  • Digital video documentation of selected aspects of the conference for future production of a documentary.
  • Creation of post-conference working groups under the umbrella of the ICERM Living Together Movement.

We will measure attitude changes and increased knowledge via pre and post session tests and conference evaluations. We will measure process objectives through collection of data re: nos. participating; groups represented – number and type -, completion of post-conference activities and by achieving the benchmarks below leading to success.

Benchmarks:

  • Confirm Presenters
  • Register 400 persons
  • Confirm Funders & Sponsors
  • Hold Conference
  • Publish Findings

Proposed Time-Frame for Activities

  • Planning starts after the 2015 Annual Conference by October 19, 2015.
  • 2016 Conference Committee appointed by November 18, 2015.
  • Committee convenes meetings monthly from December, 2015.
  • Program & activities developed by February 18, 2016.
  • Promotion & Marketing starts by February 18, 2016.
  • Call for Papers released by October 1, 2015.
  • Abstract Submission Deadline Extended to August 31, 2016.
  • Selected Papers for Presentation notified by September 9, 2016.
  • Research, Workshop & Plenary Session Presenters confirmed by September 15, 2016.
  • Full Paper submission deadline: September 30, 2016.
  • Registration– pre-conference closed by September 30, 2016.
  • Hold 2016 Conference: “One God in Three Faiths:…” November 2 and 3, 2016.
  • Edit Conference Videos and Release them by December 18, 2016.
  • Conference Proceedings edited and Post-Conference Publication – Special Issue of the Journal of Living Together published by January 18, 2017.

Download Conference Program

2016 International Conference on Ethnic and Religious Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding held in New York City, USA, on November 2-3, 2016. Theme: One God in Three Faiths: Exploring the Shared Values in the Abrahamic Religious Traditions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Some of the participants at the 2016 ICERM Conference
Some of the participants at the 2016 ICERM Conference

Conference Participants

On November 2-3, 2016, more than one hundred conflict resolution scholars, practitioners, policymakers, religious leaders, and students from diverse fields of study and professions, and from more than 15 countries gathered in New York City for the 3rd Annual International Conference on Ethnic and Religious Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, and the Pray for Peace event – a multi-faith, multi-ethnic, and multi-national prayer for global peace. At this conference, experts in the field of conflict analysis and resolution and participants carefully and critically examined the shared values within the Abrahamic faith traditions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The conference served as a proactive platform for a continuous discussion on and dissemination of information about the positive, prosocial roles that these shared values have played in the past and continue to play in strengthening social cohesion, peaceful settlement of disputes, interfaith dialogue & understanding, and the mediation process. At the conference, speakers and panelists highlighted how the shared values in Judaism, Christianity and Islam could be utilized to foster a culture of peace, enhance the mediation and dialogue processes and outcomes, and educate the mediators of religious and ethno-political conflicts as well as policymakers and other state and non-state actors working to reduce violence and resolve conflict. We are honored to share with you the photo album of the 3rd annual international conference. These photos reveal important highlights of the conference and the pray for peace event.

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