Interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding are two important values that the Rumi Forum promotes. Through dialogue that intersects societal and cultural barriers, we can learn how to coexist in a mutually beneficial and peaceful world.

Even with the Coronavirus pandemic, people are able to connect with others that are millions of miles away because our technology has surpassed city and country limits. We can now see live action updates of hardships people face around the globe which makes us responsible to step in. It is no longer enough to simply be citizens of our local community. In order to not be bystanders to human rights violations, we must engage as global citizens. This demand may seem to be too much to bear on one person, but to be an active global citizen does not require an individual to come up with the solution to the world’s problems. However, it does require them to start the conversation. This is where institutions come into play.

International institutions, such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, and the Rumi Forum, provide individuals with a platform to raise their voices and concerns. Our event on December 11th, 2020 is one such opportunity where people can gather and engage in stimulating exchanges of opinions on how we can grow and be better supporters of Universal Human Rights. In preparation for our event, we want to stimulate dialogue and thinking. And this week, we encourage people to think about the role of international institutions in advocating for human rights.

In the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), they outline a criteria that they believe is necessary for a just world. SDG 16 accentuates the need for peace and inclusivity in societies. It advocates for creating strong and just institutions as part of the solution to reducing inequality. 

Also, as part of our program, we will include brief video of interviews from academics, scholars and leaders of civil society and human rights organizations. We would be honored if you would like to participate in this part of the main event. Please respond back to info@rumiforum.org if you are interested in participating.

Author: Elena Freeman