When Religions Seek Common Ground for a Peaceful World Order

Scheduled for January 30 at the Vienna International Centre, the United Nations’ headquarters in Austria, the conference is held in observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), a global initiative unanimously endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2010.

Under the theme “The Relevance of Religions for a Peaceful World Order,” the event, organized by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), UNCAV, and a coalition of faith-based, youth, student, and women’s peace organizations, highlights religion not only as a system of belief but as a moral actor in contemporary international life.

Speakers and UPF leaders at a World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) conference, held annually at the UN in Vienna. (Photo: UPF)

From a United Nations Resolution to a Global Practice
World Interfaith Harmony Week was formally proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in Resolution 65/5, designating the first week of February each year as a time to promote “mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue as important dimensions of a culture of peace.”

The resolution calls on states to spread messages of harmony in churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, and other places of worship worldwide — grounded in love of God, love of one’s neighbor, or love of the good and love of one’s neighbor.

What began as a diplomatic declaration has evolved into a global platform. Since 2013, WIHW conferences in Vienna have brought together increasingly diverse voices from diplomats, scholars, and faith leaders.

Vienna - A Crossroads of Interfaith Dialogue
Vienna’s selection as host city is deliberate. As one of the four major UN hubs, the Austrian capital serves as neutral ground for dialogue on peace, disarmament, and human rights.

This year’s conference will unfold in two main sessions: “Towards Harmony among Religions and Cultures” and “Religion and a Peaceful World Order,” highlighting the growing link between interfaith dialogue and global security and politics.

Speakers range from H.E. Mohammed Sameer Salem Hindawi, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Lukas Mandl, Member of the European Parliament, to academics and former UN officials such as Dr. Afsar Rathor, who has served in UN peacekeeping missions and at UNIDO.

When Religion Enters the Global Public Sphere
Historically, religion is often portrayed as a source of division. WIHW seeks to reposition religion as a moral resource for peace, tolerance, and understanding - reflecting the UN resolution that calls on all faiths to promote peace and tolerance.

WIHW is inclusive. Its principle of “love of the good and love of one’s neighbor” opens dialogue to those beyond formal religious communities, embracing all people of goodwill who share universal human values.

One of the conferences during the World Interfaith Harmony Week at the UN in Vienna. (Photo: UPF)

A Message Beyond Ceremony
In a world fragmented by populism, geopolitical rivalry, and crises of trust, WIHW and the Vienna conference go beyond ceremonial gestures. They remind us that peace cannot rely solely on treaties or military deterrence — it requires shared moral values, sustained dialogue, and respect for difference.

As more than a decade of WIHW demonstrates, when religions and communities of goodwill find common ground, they speak not just to one another — they speak to the world about a possible future: a world order built on harmony rather than confrontation.