Sadhvi Bhagawatiji was on a high level panel during the fifth day of the Parliament of World’s Religions “Plan of Action for Religious Leaders & Actors to prevent incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes” with Simona Cruciani, coordinator in the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect, Rabbi David Rosen, Bhaisahib Mohinder Singh Ahluwaliaji and Dr. Mohammad Sammak, moderated by KAICIIDs senior advisor Mohammad Abu Nimer.
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Secretary-General Global Interfaith WASH Alliance shared, “I commend the efforts of the Under Secretary General, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng to bring faith leaders and actors together on one platform to develop and now implement this plan of action. This is the first effort of this size and scope that works not only to prevent atrocity crimes but also to prevent the inciting speech which precipitates it. It is historic to get such a vast number of high level faith leaders to commit to finding other ways which are positive and life affirming to form community than by speaking negatively about the other. The plan of action emphasises that people’s right to live and to live peacefully trumps any right to freedom of speech.”
In concluding, she reiterated and encouraged faith leaders to have the courage to find ways to connect and form community that are not based on the construct of us vs them. She recommended that there be special regional events to bring greater awareness to these efforts and help build ownership and responsibility by faith leaders to be the change.
