Religions for Peace

On the weekend of April 15-17, 16 active religious young adults from across North America convened in Stony Point, New York for a retreat to equip them with the skills and knowledge to advance multi-religious cooperation for peace in the North American context.  The retreat allowed participants to plan on how to expand and sustain an Interfaith Youth Network in North America, as well as shape and advance the Religions for Peace Arms Down! Campaign in the United States and Canada. 

The participants were educated on disarmament issues by Ms. Allison Pytlak, Religions for Peace Disarmament Program Coordinator; Mr. Anthony Seaboyer, United Nations Representative of Mayors for Peace; and Mr. Zach Hudson, Coordinator of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines.  Ms. Pytlak focused on military spending, Mr. Seaboyer presented on nuclear weapons, and Mr. Hudson provided an overview of landmines and cluster munitions.

Additionally, Rev. Bud Heckman, Special Advisor to the Secretary General of Religions for Peace, provided an overview of the work of Religions for Peace at the global and regional levels, and facilitated various discussions on how religious youth can engage their religious communities and leaders and utilize their social, physical, and moral assets.  Focus was placed on three specific actions - education, mobilization, and advocacy- as ways to unite religious communities and work for a common cause.

Participants also developed advocacy letters calling for full ratification and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions by the United States and Canada. These two letters are rooted in a multi-religious perspective and will be later distributed in the respective religious communities for signatures and submission to each government.   

Lastly, participants worked together to formulate a structure for the North American Interfaith Youth Network (NAIYN). This structure will ensure the growth and sustainability of the network and will support the organizing and implementation of future NAIYN activities on disarmament and other pertinent issues.