“Empowering Youth for Peace through Interreligious Cooperation, Education and Humanitarian Action.”
“Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) meeting on the international Day of Peace”

Geneva, Switzerland, September 21 & 22, 2020

Dear colleagues and friends,

The year 2020 will be long remembered for the devastating consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic on theworld’s 7.8 billion population. While injustices, conflict, and extremisms of all sorts still ravage the face of the earth, there has never been such a broad solidarity beyond historical barriers to solve the current problems that threaten humanity.

Recent events have not only taken their toll on the health of aging population, but also significantly on the mental and spiritual health of young people. More than ever, there is a need to foster the engagement of youth for positive change and a better future.

The Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) in Europe and Middle East, a project of the Universal Peace Federation, with key partners has taken the initiative to host a two-day conference:“Empowering Youth for Peace: Through interreligious cooperation, education and humanitarian action.” It will feature an Interfaith Learning Workshop on September 21, 2020, commemorating the 39th International. Day of Peace. with the cooperation of 6 faith communities in Geneva, plus a Webinar with 3 distinct sessions on September 22, 2020,

As a special feature, a Model UN Interfaith Youth Panel will be convened on September 22, which has been proposed as part of the UN SDG Action Zone, a project of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

We would like to invite you, representing the fields of youth, religion, politics, academia, NGO, International organization’s and the private sector to join us for this very significant event.

Heiner W. Handschin

Interreligious Association for Peace and Development – Regional Office for Europe and Middle East
c/o UPF - Rue Anne-Torcapel 10 – 1202 Geneva Ch. de la Pierreire 1D, 1092 Belmont www.switzerland.upf.org, www.upf.org Tel. +41 21 729 986