Women of Faith Statement | COP26

We, women of diverse faiths, beliefs and traditions, from different countries around the world, hereby bring our collective voice to this COP.

Not in our name is the desecration of our collective forests and lands, in the name of profit for a few, but decimating livelihoods and dignity of all;

Not in our name is the damage to our air, which burns our lungs, our homes, and our presence on this earth, as it deprives all other living species of life itself;

Not in our name the violation of our water by industrial waste, which violates our bodies, ourselves and leaves us thirsty.

Not in our name is the unceasing exploitation of the dignity of our planet, which is a violation of the dignity of each of us.

Each of us works to change mindsets in our communities through our hearts, with our hands, our bodies, and with our minds.

We affirm that our own lives are intimately connected to unpolluted air, pure water and lively ecosystems, respected lands, treasured livestock, animals, and a healthy biodiversity. We believe that human beings are custodians of all inanimate and animate species on this Earth, and we recognize the interdependence and interconnectedness of all life on our planet.

We maintain that the violation of our planet is intimately connected with attitudes of violence towards human beings and all living things, to the disregard for legislation, all of which leads to escalating conflicts within and between our communities.

We praise our lawmakers who protect, respect and nurture this earth as they protect, respect and hold themselves accountable to justice for each and all.

We show gratitude for each activist, young and old, who have contributed to holding us all accountable – including for our own disregard.

We question those in positions of authority – whether in governmental, non-governmental and intergovernmental contexts, whether in the corporate world or at the community level – who are committed to harming people and planet.

If you hear our voices and support our work together with consistent commitment and integrity, we would have a planet of unfettered beauty of nature, souls honouring our common spirit.

We call upon our governments to heed our call as women of faith
We call on corporations to learn that our voice is that of a global consciousness/conscience;

We call upon the international organisations to ensure their projects and programmes integrate our vision in their designs, our time in their plans, strategies and to support our efforts in the roll out of actual work;

We hold our own faith leaders accountable to acknowledging our work, and upholding our leadership alongside theirs.

We affirm our continued commitments to work with the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative, to honour the Faiths For Forest Declaration, the Faiths for Earth initiative, as we commit to working with all partners, to fulfill the common mission of protecting and nurturing our planet.

Signatories

1. Ms. Mirian Akuaba De- Souza, Youth Coordinator, Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace
2. Hon. Mme. Layla Alkhafaji, Co-President Religions for Peace
3. Ms. María José Ananías, Chilean Association on Inter-Religious Dialogue for Human Development (ADIR)
4. Dr. Kezevino Aram, President Shanti Ashram, Co-Moderator Religions for Peace
5. Ms. Alifatul Arifiati, Project Officer, Fahmina Institute
6. Ms. Francesca Baldini, Coordinator of Women Section, Religions for Peace Italy
7. Dr. Deepali Bhanot, Executive Membet Asian Conference of Religions for Peace
8. Ms. Martha Bire, Director, The Eastern Indonesia Women’s Network
9. Dr. Rahima Campiglia Interfaith Council of Mexico
10. Rev. Cecilia Castillo Nanjarí, LACWFN Executive Team Member and Voluntary support team for the gender justice issue, Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI)
11. Sr. Agatha O. Chikelue, Nun of the Daughters of Mother Mary of Mercy; Co-Chair Nigerian & African Women of Faith Network; Executive Director Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP)
12. Bishop Victoria Cortez Rodriguez, Bishop, Lutheran Church of Nicaragua; Founder, “Faith and Hope” Church
13. Ms. Jennifer Dewar, Secretary (& Co-coordinator of Women of Faith Network), InterReligious Organisation of Guyana
14. Ms. Maria Cristina Dos Anjos da Conceição, LACWFN Executive Team Member, Caritas Latin America and the Caribbean (SELACC)
15. Dr. Evelyn Falck, Chairperson, Interfaith and Intercultural Committee; Member, International Council of Jewish Women (ICJW); Coordinator of RfP Latin America
16. Ms. Emina Frljak, Program Coordinator, Youth for Peace; Member, International Youth Committee; Member, Religions for Peace International Youth Committee
17. Ms. Raquel Gago, LACWFN Executive Team Member, National Union of Evangelical Christian Churches of Peru (UNICEP)
18. Ms. Ela Gandhi, Religions for Peace World Council

19. Ms. Fatima Hallal, Junior Researcher, Hartford Seminary-Interreligious Relations; Member, International Youth Committee; Member, Religions for Peace International Youth Committee
20. Ms. Nageeba Hassan Tegulwa, Board Member Interfaith Women Uganda, Executive Member Africa Women of Faith Network, Interreligious Council of Uganda, African Council of Religious Leaders
21. Ms. Christina Josefien Hutubessy, Executive Secretary, OASE INTIM, Indonesia
22. Sheikha Amina al Jerrahi, Director of Islam, Interfaith Religious Council of Mexico
23. Ms. Sheldiana Jano, Women Department, Interreligious Council of Albania
24. Ms. Olivera Jovanovic, Senior Advisor, Interreligious council in Bosnia and Herzeg
25. Dr. Pritpal Kaur, Co-President Religions for Peace
26. Ms. Ravinder Kaur Nijjar, Chair, Religions for Peace UK Women of Faith Network; Advisor, Sikhs in Scotland; Sikh Representative, Scottish Religious Leaders Forum; International Womens Coordinating Committee Member, Religions for Peace Global Women of Faith Network; Board Member European Women of Faith Network
27. Ms. Maria Cristina Kaveri Cantoni, Co-president, RfP Europe – EWFN
28. Ms. Melody Amal Khalil Kabalan Religion for Peace, GIYN
29. Bishop Margot Kässmann, Co-President Religions for Peace
30. Professor Amany Lubis, Rector, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University; Member, Board of Trustees, Forum for Promoting Peace
31. Ms. Lyka Mtambo, Youth Representative Religions for Peace Interreligious Council in Malawi
32. Ms. Gabriela Mulder, LACWFN Co-Coordinator, Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches of Latin America (AIPRAL)
33. Ms.Lwin Mar Oo, Executive Committee Member, Religions for Peace Myanmar (Rfp-M); Deputy Moderator, Rfp Aisa and the Pacific Interfaith Youth Network (APIYN); Member, Religions for Peace International Youth Committee (IYC)
34. Ms. María Pedicino, Inter-Religious Committee for Peace of Cordoba (COMIPAZ) (Argentina).
35. Ms. Ana Victoria Pelaez, Executive Secretary
36. Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Co-President, Religions for Peace
37. Prof. Nayla Tabbara, President of Adyan Foundation- Lebanon, Co-President Religions for Peace
38. Grand-Mother Marie-Josée Rankin Tardif, President, Kina8at Together; Elder from the Anicinape (Algonquin) tradition
39. Rev. A. Elga J. Sarapung, Director and Coordinator, Institute for Interfaith Dialogue in Indonesia (INTERFIDEI) and Indonesia Interfaith Network (IIN)
40. Dr. Mamta Shaha, Chair, Women’s Committee, Federal Jain Associations in North America (JAINA); Former Chair, Media Production Committee
41. Dr. Lilian Sison, Chair of Asia-Pacific Women of Faith Network
42. Ms. Laura Vargas, Executive Secretary, Interreligious Council of Perú-Religions for Peace

43. Dr. Lakshmi Vyas, President, Hindu Forum of Europe; Chair of Education, Hindu Forum of Britain
44. Rev. Megumi Wada, Director, International Interreligious Cooperation, Rissho Kosei-kai, Japan; Former Director of General Affairs, RfP Japan
45. Dr. Suphatmet Yunyasit, Secretary-General, Religions for Peace Interreligious Council of Thailand; Human Rights and Peace Studies, Faculty, Mahidol University, Thailand
46. Dr. Maria Lia Zervino, Servidora President General WUCWO-UMOFC, Co-President Religions for Peace
47. Ven. Huang Zhi’an, Vice President, Chinese Taoist Association; Director, Women’s Group of China Committee on Religion and Peace
48. Mrs Ishrat Hussnain, Vice-Chair, Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society