World Interfaith Harmony Week is celebrated the world over every first week of February with the intent of promoting harmony among people irrespective of their faith. This initiative is based on the purpose of promoting "Love of God and Love of the Neighbor, or Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbor."
Since its inception in 2011, individuals and organizations mark this day with an array of activities that highlight the positive impact of interfaith, harmony, peace, dialogue, and the beauty of embracing each other’s differences.
As an organization whose mission is hinged on inter-religious collaboration and harmony, several activities were organized by URI’s Cooperation Circles around the world to mark WIHW.
Take a look below at some of the events organized by the URI Cooperation Circles around the world!
Additionally in 2023, some of the regional offices collaborated to produce informative programming from the URI Cooperation Circles. The videos of these programs are available by clicking here.
Africa
URI Regional Office: URI Great Lake Region.Location: Uganda
In celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2023, URI Great Lakes Region organized a youth empowerment workshop that brought together young girls who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to gain hands-on skills in bakery and financial literacy.
URI Region: Africa Location: Great Lakes, West Africa, Southern Africa, Horn of Africa
The United Religions Initiative-Africa in partnership with the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (URI CC), the G20 Interfaith Forum, the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum, the African Union Citizens and Diaspora Organizations Directorate (CIDO), and AU-ECOSOCC organizing a one-day interfaith event aimed at fostering mutual understanding and cooperation among people of diverse religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions. Recognizing the importance of interfaith dialogue, the event is being held in commemoration of World Interfaith Harmony Week.
Asia
URI Region: Asia- East India
Cooperation Circle: Shaligram Singh Smriti Sansthan , Peace4Dalits, Jharkhand
Shaligram Singh Tomar Smriti Sansthan CC organized a 7 Days Cricket Tournament on the eve of World Interfaith Harmony Week (12-18th February 2023) Peace4Dalits Foundation Nepal, Jharkhand CCs team, Bihar CCs participated in this tournament. URI CC Shaligram STSS took this Initiative to call our neighborhood country Nepal and gave the opportunity & message of Interfaith & peace to the world. Watch video recording
URI Region: Asia - Pakistan
Cooperation Circle: A Better Community for All Pakistan
In commemoration of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2023, A better community for all Pakistan Cooperation Circle organized a webinar that brought together over 30 participants to share about the importance and need for interfaith harmony.
Europe
URI Region: Europe
Cooperation Circle: Baraza CC
The webinar “Building a Culture of Peace Partnerships to Support UNESCO’s Mission“ was held on 21st February on the occasion of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week. This webinar resulted from the collaboration between Baraza CC, URI Europe, and URI Great Lakes. Also, a message from Ambassador Musie Hailu was shared, and it can be seen on the URI Europe YouTube channel.
More than 17 participants from 10 countries participated in the webinar. Questions and comments from participants followed very insightful and interesting presentations. The webinar recording can be seen on the URI Europe YouTube channel. Read more.
URI Region: Europe
Cooperation Circle: Baraza CC
URI and the Center for Earth Ethics organized the webinar "Values, Cultures and Spirituality: Ecosystems Restoration" during World Interfaith Harmony Week. This was a great opportunity to learn how faith communities can convene consultation groups to restore local ecosystems. Also, this was an opportunity for URI members and friends in Europe to listen and learn from nature and the people who want it to be sustained for generations to come. Fourteen participants from Austria, Brazil, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Uganda, and the USA participated in the webinar. They shared ideas and activities as well as questions. No activity is too small – every conversation and every activity is important! Watch video recording.
URI Region: Europe and Great Lakes Cooperation Circles: Baraza CC and Faiths Together Uganda CC
The webinar “The Role of Music in Harmonising Dialogue“ was held on Tuesday, 14th February, on the occasion of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week. This webinar was a result of collaboration between Baraza CC, URI Europe, URI Great Lakes and Faiths Together CC.More than 25 participants from 14 countries participated in the webinar. Questions and comments from participants followed very insightful and interesting presentations. Read more.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Middle East and North Africa
URI Region: Middle East and North Africa Cooperation Circle: Peace for All Tunisia
Peace for All- Tunisia organized two workshops on the importance of the WIHW emphasizing the importance of building bridges of understanding among people of different faiths and religious traditions. Showing how this would enhance mutual understanding, harmony, and cooperation among diverse people. 38 participants attended the first session on February, 1st, 2023, coming from Tunisia, Congo, and cote d Ivoire from Muslim, Christian and Berber traditions. The second workshop, which was held on February, 9th, 2023, was attended by more than 100 students from different Universities. About 140 young people learn about the importance of living harmoniously with people of different faiths, traditions, ethnicities, and perspectives.
URI Region: Middle East and North Africa Cooperation Circle: Quadrat Jordan CC
Quadrat Jordan CC Launched the Ambassadors for Dialogue initiative on the occasion of World Harmony Week. The workshop enabled the definition of its capabilities, goals, aspirations, goals, aspirations, aspirations, and a review of religions in the United Arab Emirates. The initiative was launched in a plenary session on social and historical surroundings, geography, focus, aspects, and focus. To unite, reduce differences, and reject all toxic thoughts that underestimate others and do not accept them, through learning numbers and values that are constantly published within specific times and days, opening discussions and dialogues, adopting ideas and proposals, and numbering noble values for a safer, more cohesive and resilient group.
URI Multiregion
The Global Youth Interfaith & Intercultural Forum 2023, hosted by A Common Word Among The Youth (ACWAY) & Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID), was held in Qatar from February 11th to 14th. A Common Word Among the Youth is a global youth movement that brings together young people from many backgrounds to increase understanding of different cultures and faiths, promote peace and coexistence, and deliver local community activities. URI and ACWAY have a history of collaboration in events and programs related to youth empowerment. The forum brought together 75 people from around the globe to strengthen the role of young people in promoting interfaith and intercultural harmony and to amplify a global message of peaceful coexistence in the spirit of the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week. This gathering offered various activities and interactions related to youth empowerment, such as intercultural and interfaith dialogue workshops, training, networking, and social activities. Read more.
Cooperation Circle: Ecopeace Teen Cafe
EcoPeace Teen Cafe organized an inter-religious dialogue to mark World interfaith Harmony Week. Special guest speakers comprised religious leaders from different religions and faith beliefs. Among these included; Sister Kathryn, Brahmakumaris,co-president of the European Woman of Faith Network – RfP, and a Board member of RfP EuropeImam Essan Secundar, President of Religions for Peace;Belgium, he is also a member of the European National Interreligious Bodies (ENIB) of RFP Europe.
His Grace Salika Dasa Adhikari,Comparative Religionist, and conflict resolution expert is the Temple President of the International Society for Krishna ConsciousnessV asu Bandhu serves as Faith Community Coordinator for Arizona Faith Network,Pujya Swami Rameshwarananda Giri Maharaj, Hindu monk of the Advaita Vedanta Dashnami Sannyasin Order, Director of the PHI School of Yoga Vedanta and Meditation Sr;Agatha O. Chikelue;Nigerian Catholic Nun from the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy; Chair - Religions for Peace International Women’s Coordinating Committee.
Watch video recording
North America
URI Region: North America Cooperation Circle: Tri-City Interfaith Council
Islamic Networks Group and Tri-City Interfaith Council cosponsored the interreligious panel during World Interfaith Harmony Week.Panelists from major world religions will discuss how to be a good guest at your neighbor’s house of worship, and how to be a good host when welcoming people of other faiths into your house of worship.
URI Region: North America
Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation together with International Buddhist Education Center and Sanghakaya Foundation organized an Interfaith Dialogue on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. Watch and participate in this event live on Facebook www.facebook.com/HeiwaPRF
Southeast Asia and the Pacific
URI Region: South East Asia and the Pacific
Cooperation Circle: 1000 Abrahamic Circles
In commemoration of Interfaith Harmony Week 2023, 1000 Abrahamic Circles held a virtual public discussion on "Generation to Generation: Empowering Grassroots Efforts in Promoting Interfaith Harmony." Participants exchanged each other's viewpoints on intergenerational grassroots collaboration in achieving interfaith harmony.