In its last paragraph the resolution …

“Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session on the implementation of the present resolution and, at its sixtysixth session, in coordination with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to further solicit views of Member States on the possibility of proclaiming a United Nations decade for interreligious and intercultural dialogue and cooperation for peace, building on the information contained in the reports of the Secretary-General at the sixty-fourth and sixty-fifth sessions and the relevant initiatives to be taken in the course of 2010.”

Although the possibility of proclaiming a UN Decade of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and Cooperation remains in the GA agenda, a decision on this matter is now likely to be postponed until 2011.

(See the full text of the revised project of resolution; the final text has not yet been published by the UN UNGA resolution A.64.L15.rev1)

UNICEF and religious groups act as advocates in a variety of programs, among them:

- educational projects for out-of-school and abused children,

- advocacy and education for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention,

- combating sexual commercial exploitation of children and child labour,

- best possible health care for children,

- promotion and defence of children’s rights, and

- integration of child rights promotion and child protection into social action programs led by churches and religious groups.

Link:  http://www.unicef.org/media/media_4537.html

UNICEF   -  LATIN AMERICA

UNICEF and the Latin American Episcopal Confrence (CELAM) have carried out jointly programs directed at protecting the social rights of children and adolescents and their families in L.A. & the Caribbean for over 20 years. Some examples of successful projects are:

Dominican Republic

Project Name: Name and Nationality in the Dominican Republic.

The project represents a campaign “For the Right to a Name and Nationality” under the joint action of UNICEF, the Catholic Church, and the Government through the Office of Civil Registration, an agency of the Central Board of Elections (JCE).

It began in the year 2000 after UNICEF and CELAM signed an agreement to jointly attack the problem of under registration of births. It is an example of partnership work in the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguada (Southern Region of Dominican Republic), where in the year 1998 there were some 80,000 undeclared people.

Project achievements include the granting of birth certificates to 5,004 children below the age of 12 during the period September-December 2001. Another 14,300 received certification of their identity between June-October 2002, allowing them to become actual citizens and claim their rights (formal education for example) or those of their ancestry.

UNICEF Santo Domingo collaborates by financing project’s operations, preparing the legal documentation, disseminating educational material and carrying out workshops to train volunteers doing the work. The Official Clerk’s Office of the JCE files the information collected from the volunteers. The Catholic Church, through the Dominican Center for Legal and Research Advisor (CEDAIL), the legal arm of the Catholic Church, facilitates the legal documentation of children: birth certificates and official enrolment in schools.

Project has been extended to other communities of the country with great success.

Link:  http://www.unicef.org/media/media_4537.html ; go to paragraph ‘In Latin America’; pinch on ‘Read More’; and pinch Download 5 Histories (pdf).

Guatemala

Project Name: Participation

The country’s history of violations of human rights linked to the internal armed conflicts that devastated Guatemala for 36 years, are the motivating forces behind this project, a joint work of UNICEF and the Office of Human Rights of the Archbishop of Guatemala (ODHA).

Three existing documents/reports plus the Peace Agreements constitute the basis for this project about education for peace. These reports are: ‘Guatemala: Never Again’, of the Interdiocesian project; ‘Guatemala, Silent Memory’ of the Committee for the Clarification of History (CEH); and the Pastoral Letter ‘A True Peace is Urgent’ from the Guatemalan Episcopal Conference.

The basic premise of this joint program is that national reconciliation and harmony would require a profound effort of cultural transformation, and that could only be accomplished through an active policy of education for peace, in a way that ‘never again’ …

The project aims at developing pedagogical materials for primary school teachers and for the first three years of basic education, whereby a culture of peace can be built based on historical memory and civic values. It is considered that the historical memory, both individual and collective, form the basis of the national identity, and that the dissemination of new civic values in the education of children and young people is needed to build sustainable peace. Among these values are: self-esteem, the truth, respect and tolerance, the capacity of dialogue, justice, cooperation and solidarity.

The ultimate goal is to develop the critical capacity of children and young people in the face of the current value system and to promote the creation of fairest forms of living together.

The Catholic Church is not only centered on awareness of the historical memory but in an understanding of the causes behind internal armed conflict, in a reflection upon the pain and fear, the loss of the tragedy. They are also interested in creating a new type of citizen, more committed, more aware of their own reality and capable of implementing and making changes toward building a different Guatemala.

UNICEF, in its work with the Church, provides technical assistance and funding resources.

Link:  http://www.unicef.org/media/media_4537.html ;  go to paragraph ‘In Latin America’ ;  pinch on ‘Read More’; and pinch Download 5 Histories (pdf).

Colombia

Project Name: Faces of the Children’s Friendship School.

This project takes place in some towns of the municipality of Ayapel, Cordoba Department, a northern region of Colombia.

This unique concept of Friendship School is quite different from the ones normally found in rural areas. They are more like ‘living spaces’ where children’s rights are fostered and protected. From a perspective of rights they contribute to the children’s holistic development and wellbeing, thus focusing on a model of democratic participation with emphasis on integration and coherence elements in terms of inclusion, permanence, and scholastic success. The educational process is applied to shaping the conscience of the students, their respect for the rights of others, participation, mobilization of the community, creativity and daily practices.

In 2002 UNICEF, through an agreement with CELAM and, in some cases with the Local Secretary of Education, has contributed more than one million US dollars to transform 23 schools into Friendship Schools. They basically help children displaced by the armed conflict, having bebefitted more than 2,000 children.

Children learn what is necessary to develop their greatest potential, through participation and awareness of being able of the capacity to act as a community involved in their own evolution.

In the midst of an armed conflict, the alliance between the Catholic Church and UNICEF began to bear fruits (year 2003): children happily studying.

Link:  http://www.unicef.org/media/media_4537.html ; go to paragraph ‘In Latin America’; pinch on ‘Read More’; and pinch Download 5 Histories (pdf).

UNICEF  -  ASIA

Afghanistan

Project Name: Mobilizing Religious Leaders in Afghanistan.

A report of May 2003 indicates than in Afghanistan Islamic leaders have being developing positive partnership with UNICEF to promote core services and programs for women and children. In most communities, especially those in rural parts of the country, imams and mullahs are seen as both spiritual and religious leaders, and also a trusted source of guidance and advice on issues of the day.

UNICEF has taken up the potential of the religious community in the country to assist in the promotion of messages relating to children’s rights. In May 2003, UNICEF supported the first national workshop on children’s issues for religious leaders from across the nation. This 3-day seminar brought together religious leaders from all 32 provinces to discuss the role and importance of children within an Islamic context. High on the agenda was the issue of education for all, along with health and basic services for women and children.

Link:  http://www.unicef.org/media/media_13249.html

http://www.wcrp.org/files/RfP%20Annual%20Report%202007.pdf

http://www.healthpolicyinitiative.com/Publications/Documents/867_1_The_Role_of_Religious_Communities_in_Addressing_GBV_and_HIV_FINAL_acc.pdf

http://geotourism.changemakers.com/en-us/node/8022

http://ocha.unog.ch/CAPprojectsPDF/Reports/projectsheets/CAPProjectSheet_832_22922_2009113.pdf

The World Bank works:

In Cambodia

- With Buddhist, by supporting a sustainable development project that is funded under an agreement with the Alliance of Religions and Conservations (ARC), working closely with governmental offices. The project works with 14 pagodas in rural areas in Kampong Speu province and Kampong Thom province.

http://go.worldbank.org/CQ009WHKF0

In Indonesia

- With Muslims and Christians, in various environmental issues such as education, conservation and dissemination of information.

http://go.worldbank.org/O0H7ZLQAR0

In Thailand

- The Khora Initiative based in the province of Nakon Ratchasima which is an Education Training Project in Forestry for the monks and lay people.

http://go.worldbank.org/7COCZD7R90

Additionally, the Project covers other activities such as: home/community 
visits to provide moral support, temple activities like meditation retreats, 
milk bank for children orphaned or affected by HIV/AIDS, medicine bank, etc.
Because the project gives monks a way to become actively involved in their 
communities, it is spreading into other regions of Thailand (besides
Chiang Mai) as well as neighboring countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, 
Vietnam, Southern China, and others.

Read more: http://www.buddhanet.net/sangha-metta/project.html

Considering that the communities of faiths play a significant role in influencing 
people´s behavior and attitudes, and in providing health care and support for 
HIV/AIDS infected people, UNAIDS prioritizes work at the global level with 
large networks of FBOs and religious leaders, such as: African Network of 
Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by AIDS, Caritas 
International, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, Christian Aid, Tear Fund, Islamic 
Medical Association of Uganda, Positive Muslims, Islamic Relief, World 
Conference on Religion and Peace, Sangha Metta Project, and Art of Living 
Foundation.

Read more: http://www.unaids.org/en/Partnerships/Civil+society/religionAndAids.asp