Leimena Institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hold International Conference to Strengthen Multi-faith Collaboration

Director for Public Diplomacy, Directorate General of Information and Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ani Nigeriawati (center), explains the plans for the implementation of the International Conference on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy in a press conference held by Leimena Institute in Jakarta, Friday (7/5/2024).

Jakarta – Leimena Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia will hold an International Conference on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) on July 10-11, 2024 in Jakarta. The International Conference on CCRL will feature at least 50 national and international speakers who will discuss efforts to strengthen multireligious collaboration amidst various world challenges at present.

For two days, the International Conference on CCRL will be packed with an opening session, five main panels, and a closing session which can be attended in a hybrid format via Zoom, as well as a Reception session and 10 breakout sessions only for offline participants. The hybrid format is open to the public by registering via the link leimena.org/eng/conference.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Retno L.P. Marsudi, will be present to officially open the event and deliver the key remarks on Wednesday morning (7/10/2024). Other opening session speakers include Executive Director of Leimena Institute, Matius Ho, Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Brigham Young University Law School, Dr. Brett Scharffs, and Templeton Religion Trust Program Director, Iqbal Akhtar, Ph.D.

Senior Fellow of Leimena Institute, Dr. Alwi Shihab, and Prof. Dr. Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, who also serves as the Senior Advisor of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, as speakers at the press conference.

Director for Public Diplomacy, Directorate General of Information and Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ani Nigeriawati, said that the Indonesian government, through its foreign policies, is making the effort to strengthen multi-faith collaboration through Interfaith Dialogue that invites stakeholders inside the country and also collaborates with other countries.

“That is the reason why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Leimena Institute feel it is important to host the International Conference on CCRL together for the development of multi-faith collaboration in promoting and protecting human rights, achieving sustainable development, and addressing the challenges that arise due to multifaceted and multidimensional crises both regionally and globally,” Ani said during the press conference held by Leimena Institute in Jakarta, Friday (7/5/2024).

A total of 25 journalists from print, online, and electronic media attended the press conference.

The lineup of topics and speakers at the International Conference on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy attracts media coverage for said conference, which will be held on July 10-11.

The theme of this International Conference on CCRL, “Multi-faith Collaborations in an Inclusive Society”, focuses on understanding the increasing need for multi-faith collaboration where people from various religions and beliefs can learn from each other and work together to overcome problems that are of mutual concern, while still recognizing and respecting the differences in their religions and beliefs.

The press conference was also attended by two Leimena Institute Senior Fellows, Dr. Alwi Shihab, and Prof. Dr. Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, who also serves as Senior Advisor of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, as well as the Director of the Istiqlal Mosque Madrasa and Secretary General of the Central Management of the Association of Mosque Imam Brotherhood, M. Taufiqurrahman.

Leimena Institute Program Manager, Daniel Adipranata, stated that throughout human history, religion has been a source of moral and ethical principles that have inspired and enabled many individuals and communities to face various crises. However, religious differences are susceptible to becoming sources of conflict and tension, as contained in the UNESCO report entitled “Reimagining Our Futures Together” (2021) which states that the world appears increasingly fragmented and polarized; therefore, efforts to rethink a shared future require a pedagogy that fosters cooperation and solidarity.

The lineup of topics and speakers at the International Conference on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy attracts media coverage for said conference, which will be held on July 10-11.

“In particular, the conference will also highlight the important role of education in building multi-faith collaboration. This conference follows the success of Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy training in Indonesia, which has trained more than 8,500 teachers in less than two and a half years, and has involved 25 educational and religious institutions,” Daniel stated.

The international conference will be attended by approximately 200 invited participants including government officials from ministries and agencies both at home and abroad, several ambassadors from friendly countries, academics, civil society leaders, as well as CCRL training alumni consisting of madrasa and schoolteachers.

The implementation of the International Conference on CCRL is made possible through partnerships with the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University Law School, and the Templeton Religion Trust.