Values against Radicalization

In the context of rising religious and political radicalization, supported by narratives of hatred violence and divisions, the Geneva Spiritual Appeal has organized an International Conference on the theme “Which Values Unite us Today?” on March 11-12 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Under the Patronage of UNESCO, prominent politicians, religious leaders, human rights defenders and scholars from more than 20 countries have discussed social, legal, religious and ethical impacts of human values as federating forces and uniting platform for sustainable peaceful development.

The Geneva Spiritual Appeal is a Swiss-based organization created 15 years ago by spiritual and political leaders including Cornelio Sommaruga, Kofi Annan, the Dalai Lama, Mary Robinson, to oppose abuses of religious or moral beliefs to justify violence, war and discrimination. The relevance of the Appeal has dramatically increased over the last few years, with the increase of extremism and radicalism.