PROMOTION OF INTERFAITH PEACE AND HARMONY IN PAKISTAN THROUGH INTRANATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS BY INTERFAITH PEACE NETWORKS
FACES Pakistan through International Partnerships among Interfaith Peace Networks has designed and initiated a network with other like-minded religious institutions and organizations to promote interfaith dialogue that will lead to a deeper understanding of and respect for the other's faith. The network partners are formed by:
1) National Council for Interfaith Peace and Harmony Pakistan (NCIPHP), a network recognized by the Government of Punjab that consists of religious organization from all the existing religions and sects in Pakistan.
2) Youth Council for Interfaith Peace and Harmony Pakistan, a subsidiary body of NCIPHP that consists of youth from different religions and sects in Pakistan with the 950 members and 3000 volunteers.
3) SANJAH Pakistan, an independent coalition of civil society organizations dedicated towards working for Equal Citizenship rights for religious minorities in Pakistan.
NEIGHBORS FOR PEACE
FACES Pakistan initiated a youth program ‘Building Bridges over Religious and Cultural Divides’ in 2009. It initially involved University/College students from Pakistan, India and Afghanistan to promote peace, harmony, tolerance and co-existence in South Asia. FACES Pakistan was able to widen its ambit by involving students from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In 2014, the project has entered the next phase titled as “Neighbors for Peace”.
The program developed a pool of students, motivated them through trainings and strengthened their capacity to carry out peace building activities in their countries. These students are now working as peace makers in their educational institutions and spreading the values of the program among other youth. Following is the list of workshops and training sessions organized under Neighbors for Peace:
1. Workshop on Values of peace building and conflict resolution organized in Bangladesh in which 98 young boys and girls from three universities participated. The youth was given an orientation on peace building, significance of result-driven dialogue over debate, peace storytelling and drawings
2. Youth Peace Sessions were organized in India in which students from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India participated. These sessions aimed at bringing young people from South Asian countries together and providing them a platform to join hands and work together for the establishment of sustainable peace in the region. The sessions also focused on imparting knowledge and skills through which the youth can overcome challenges to peace and resolve conflicts effectively
3. Peace sessions were conducted engaging 284 students from different universities from Southern Punjab, Pakistan. The focus of these sessions was on volunteerism, community solidarity, interfaith harmony and coexistence.
