South-South Interreligious Dialogue for Decent Work
The first international meeting for interreligious dialogue and cooperation on decent work was held from 9-12 December in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
13 December 2013
ADDIS ABABA (ILO News) - The Ethiopian Interfaith Forum for Development, Dialogue and Action (EIFDDA), in partnership with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), hosted an international and interreligious meeting of representatives of faith-based institutions.
African delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Egypt and Senegal included different Christian and Muslim members to foster a South – South cooperation on decent work. The main objective was to explore opportunities for interreligious dialogue and cooperation on decent work.
Participants underlined the importance of inter-faith dialogue and cooperation on the decent work agenda both at the national and international (South South) levels. Three areas of particular importance were highlighted:
They also appreciated the facilitating role of the WCC and the ILO for this meeting and advocated for joint efforts on ‘peace through social justice and decent work’.
The roadmap for Ethiopia shows a focus on youth employment and awareness-raising on decent work. EIFDDA and its members will establish - in cooperation with relevant government offices, employers and workers organizations and the ILO office - an assessment of the needs and will determine best ways forward for interreligious cooperation on decent work for young people.
Participants from both Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal will invite relevant partners for the mapping of the needs and opportunities to promote the decent work agenda and to identify the most fruitful entry points both thematically and geographically. This will lead to the formation of inter-religious platforms facilitating the cooperation.
Christian and Islamic organizations in Egypt will gather to identify possible synergies and common strategies to develop or reinforce common projects serving unemployed youth in different communities. They will approach religious leaders to share their common concern for youth employment with other relevant actors in the society.
The final Declaration adopted by participants underscored the need to further develop the South-South cooperation in the implementation of these roadmaps.
African delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Egypt and Senegal included different Christian and Muslim members to foster a South – South cooperation on decent work. The main objective was to explore opportunities for interreligious dialogue and cooperation on decent work.
Participants underlined the importance of inter-faith dialogue and cooperation on the decent work agenda both at the national and international (South South) levels. Three areas of particular importance were highlighted:
- (a) skills training and job creation for youth employment to meet the challenges of sustainable livelihood and poverty eradication;
- (b) the role of religious leaders – Imams, bishops, priests, pastors, and other relevant institutions - in the process of community building and mutual understanding;
- (c) support and protection for the most vulnerable among women, children and youth, the elderly, migrants, people with disabilities, and people living with HIV-Aids.
National Roadmaps
Participants developed national roadmaps to reinforce interreligious cooperation on decent work and are determined to promote exchange of experiences and best practices among themselves and with other relevant partners.They also appreciated the facilitating role of the WCC and the ILO for this meeting and advocated for joint efforts on ‘peace through social justice and decent work’.
The roadmap for Ethiopia shows a focus on youth employment and awareness-raising on decent work. EIFDDA and its members will establish - in cooperation with relevant government offices, employers and workers organizations and the ILO office - an assessment of the needs and will determine best ways forward for interreligious cooperation on decent work for young people.
Participants from both Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal will invite relevant partners for the mapping of the needs and opportunities to promote the decent work agenda and to identify the most fruitful entry points both thematically and geographically. This will lead to the formation of inter-religious platforms facilitating the cooperation.
Christian and Islamic organizations in Egypt will gather to identify possible synergies and common strategies to develop or reinforce common projects serving unemployed youth in different communities. They will approach religious leaders to share their common concern for youth employment with other relevant actors in the society.
The final Declaration adopted by participants underscored the need to further develop the South-South cooperation in the implementation of these roadmaps.