Towards the World Humanitarian Summit (Istanbul, May 2016) Symposium "Religions Together for Humanitarian Action"

Minister Freiherr von Boeselager,
Minister Prince de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel,
Ambassador Ronca,
Ambassador Pictet Althann,
Excellencies,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Let us be frank: humanitarianism struggles. Religious beliefs are being challenged. And very often both of these processes happen in the same place, and are connected. Today’s symposium in the humanitarian hub that is International Geneva, a city with strong religious history, brings together an impressive range of experts to shape answers to these challenges. I am grateful to the organizers for having organized this symposium with a view to contributing to the World Humanitarian Summit and am very pleased to welcome all of you here at the Palais des Nations.

The World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016 is now only one year away. Six regional consultations have been held and two more are to be convened in the coming months. In October, the global consultations will take place here in Geneva. The multi-stakeholder nature of these consultations, including broad engagement via the internet, is exemplary.

Yes, we need an inclusive approach because the humanitarian challenges we face today are approaching – allow me to use a religious term – an apocalyptic scale. The largest number of displaced people this year since the Second World War is but one illustration of the dimensions of current human suffering. In response, we need to pool all the resources at our disposal. But inclusiveness brings with it the challenge of coordination. And this is why thorough preparation of the [World Humanitarian] Summit is so important.
Thorough preparation implies that we look at all the major aspects of humanitarian aid. And among these, the role of religion and faith-based organizations is important. Of course, faith-based organizations bring important financial resources to the table at a time where the gap between needs and resources widens. But faith is not about money – and neither is money its most valuable contribution to humanitarian aid.

In many places, as we speak, humanitarian workers from the United Nations, Governments, and NGOs including faith-based organizations are risking their lives to help others. Faith, translated into the impetus to help our fellow human beings, is one powerful explanation why they keep doing this despite an erosion of many of the humanitarian principles that have been enshrined in conventions done here in Geneva. This faith need not be religious. But often, it is.

And when humanitarian aid is based on religious beliefs, this can help generate crucial ties to the recipient community. By facilitating mutual trust, it helps create an environment for safe delivery and receipt of aid. Faith-based organizations also often stay longer than others following humanitarian disasters. At a time when calls for closer integration of development assistance and humanitarian aid for long-time resilience grow louder, the work of some faith-based organizations may serve as good examples in that regard.

Beliefs are a powerful tool. When religious beliefs are used to mobilize humanitarian aid, they can serve to bring out the best in humanity. But we also need to bear in mind, that among the humanitarian principles, neutrality, impartiality and accountability are of utmost importance. As we seek to reinvigorate these principles, faith-based organizations, like all others, need to ensure that they provide aid to all those in need, regardless of their religious background and with no intention of influencing the recipient’s most intimate beliefs.

The benefits and challenges of the role of faith-based organizations in humanitarian aid will be discussed in today’s symposium – a symposium which serves as an excellent platform for exchange and discussion.

We should do more to create platforms for engagement with religious leaders at the international level. For a number of years now, the United Nations has been strengthening and broadening its interaction with faith-based organizations. The Alliance of Civilizations, along with the UN Population Fund, UNESCO, the Peacebuilding Commission and other UN bodies, have been playing an important part in this process, including by advancing new partnership initiatives and talking frankly about cross-cultural concerns. We welcome all people of faith in this affirmation of our common humanity.

I thank you all for coming together in search of ways to bring ’Religions Together for Humanitarian Action’ and wish you fruitful discussions.

Thank you very much.