ASTANA PEACE DECLARATION 2025
We, the participants of the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Astana on 17–18 September 2025,
united by our aspiration to contribute to strengthening dialogue among religions, diverse cultures and civilizations in order to ensure mutual understanding and respect, promote a culture of peace, and enhance relations among people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds,
recognizing that dialogue among religious leaders can foster a deeper awareness of and promotion of universal human values, including the encouragement and protection of fundamental human rights and freedom,
supporting the efforts of the United Nations and other international, regional, public, and non-governmental organizations in fostering dialogue between religions and cultures to reinforce peace and stability in the world,
acknowledging the special role of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in promoting deeper understanding and respect among civilizations, cultures, religions, and peoples,
reaffirming our commitment to the values and objectives enshrined in the “The Concept of Development of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions 2023-2033”,
emphasizing the importance of respecting cultural and religious diversity,
expressing deep regret over the ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world, accompanied by humanitarian crises and the suffering of peaceful populations,
welcoming, in this context, the call by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to unite efforts of all people of good will toward forming a new global movement for peace,
expressing concern over the rise of religious and related ideological intolerance, including its manifestations in the digital environment, which contribute to the incitement of hatred and violence,
noting that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group,
reaffirming the importance of protecting religious sites and symbols, which are unique historical heritage reflecting the spirituality,culture, and traditions of peoples worldwide,
expressing particular concern about environmental degradation and climate change, and noting the role of religious leaders in educating, inspiring, and mobilizing their communities toward positive action to protect the environment,
emphasizing that new technologies, including artificial intelligence, must serve humanity, respect human dignity, and do no harm,
recognizing the significance of involving youth and women in interreligious and intercultural dialogue to overcome prejudice, deepen mutual understanding, and strengthen cooperation,
highlighting the importance of education in promoting peace, tolerance, mutual understanding, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and eradicating discrimination based on religion or beliefs,
reaffirming the significance of the Congress as an effective platform for global dialogue and acknowledging its notable role in strengthening intercultural and interreligious engagement,
WE HAVE REACHED THE FOLLOWING COMMON POSITION:
1. We express our commitment to deepening interreligious and intercultural dialogue as an important instrument in achieving peace, social stability, and global cooperation. Amid rising conflict and geopolitical confrontation, it is dialogue that opens the path to peace and development — the foundation for humanity’s survival.
2. We call on national governments, international organizations, religious leaders, policymakers, experts, NGOs, media, and all people of goodwill to actively promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue as the groundwork for human unity, encouraging tolerance, respect for human rights, inclusivity, and peaceful coexistence, and rejecting hate speech and violence in order to reinforce peace and mutual understanding among peoples and states.
3. We believe that it is part of the mission of religious leaders to serve as moral guides in contemporary societies, pointing out problem areas and fostering trust and fair solutions, as well as supporting peacemaking and constructive dialogue at regional and global levels.
4. We note that the “Special Session on Safeguarding Religious Sites” under the auspices of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, held during the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, makes a significant contribution to preserving cultural diversity and humanity’s spiritual heritage, while recognizing the damage and destruction that have occurred in many parts of the world in recent years. Its convening aids the UN’s goal of uniting global efforts in promoting and protecting religious freedom.
5. We reaffirm the value of the Document “On Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together,” initiated by the Holy See and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, the “Meccan Declaration,” the “Declaration on Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought”, as well as initiatives from the Holy See, Bahrain, Jordan, the Alliance of Civilizations, the Muslim World League, Religions for Peace, the G20 Interfaith Forum, the Muslim Council of Elders, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and other organizations aimed at strengthening interreligious dialogue and mutual understandingamong followers of various religions and confessions worldwide.
6. We express our gratitude and respect for the contribution of Pope Francis — an outstanding spiritual leader of our time, who devoted his life to serving peace, dialogue among people and religions, and the protection of human dignity, and justice. His legacy remains a luminous guide for all who aspire to harmony, mercy, and mutual understanding.
7. We resolutely endorse the UN’s thesis of “Unity in Diversity” and UN General Assembly resolutions directed toward developing interfaith and intercultural dialogue and countering incitement to hatred, while taking note of initiatives such as the “UN Plan of Action for the Protection of Religious Sites,” which may serve as a useful reference point in this field.
8. We express deep concern over the continuation of conflicts in various regions of the world. These conflicts inflict devastating damage on countries and civilian populations, cause mass human rights violations, and endanger the foundations of humanity and global security. We call on all parties to cease violence, establish dialogue, and seek peaceful solutions based on the UN Charter and international law.
9. We strongly urge the preservation of peace and the prevention of any use of nuclear andother weapons of mass destruction, which pose threats to all humanity. Political leaders and officials must exercise sound judgment, follow moral principles, and undertake all possible efforts to prevent the escalation of armed conflicts, prioritizing the preservation of peace and security on Earth.
10. We draw attention to the international community’s need to intensify efforts to supportwomen and children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, refugees, and internally displaced persons from crisis and conflict zones, ensuring their rights and social integration.
11. We acknowledge that social inequalityfosters the growth of radical views and call on political leaders to reduce wealth disparities and ensure decent living conditions for all. We express concern over the loss of spiritual and moral direction in consumerist societies and advocate for cultivating spiritual values and moral responsibility in modern societies. Followers of religious traditions must not be deprived of their rights to freedom of religion in accordance with spiritual values.
12. We are convinced that economic and political contradictions and conflicts between countries should not lead to increased intercultural and interethnic animosity and intolerance, nor to hatred, discrimination, or violence among people. Civil society and policymakers must remember this, encouraging the preservation of mutual respect and dialogue that fosters a culture of tolerance and respect among people, societies, and nations.
13. We denounce extremism, radicalism, and terrorism in all forms and manifestations and affirm the inadmissibility of using religion for political purposes. We call for cooperation between religious and political leaders in this regard.
14. We condemn any propaganda of religious hatred, incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence based on religion, the desecration of religious sites and symbols, and other acts of religious intolerance.
15. We support education and religious instruction as tools to combat radicalism and extremism. Education should cultivate a culture of respect for other faiths and worldviews, laying the foundation for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect in the world.
16. We call for the protection of the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, preventing discrimination and persecution based on race, religion, culture, and other differences. Recognizing that human diversity reflects the divine plan and affirms the equality of all people, we emphasize the inadmissibility of coercion into religion and the need to respect differences as the basis for peaceful coexistence.
17. We endorse equality and inclusivity as the foundation for sustainable development. We call for the protection of the rights of all religious, ethnic, and social groups, and their active participation in public life and political dialogue.
18. We note the potential of women in political and public life and seek to promote the conditions that enable their full participation, acknowledging how this benefits society as a whole.
19. We underscore the role of youth in building bridges of understanding and respect between different cultures and religions. We support the Forum of Young Religious Leaders, held under the aegis of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, as an important platform for consolidating efforts of new generations and ensuring continuity in interreligious dialogue.
20. We express concern over the slowdown in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda and call on developed countries to enhance financial and technological support for developing states to achieve Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, while calling on developing countries to exert all possible efforts toward sustainable development.
21. We reaffirm the importance of environmental protection and combating climate change. We call for global efforts to preserve ecosystems, prevent climate disasters, mitigate consequences, and adapt to climate change. Caring for nature is our moral duty to the Creator and future generations.
22. We instruct the Secretariat of the Congress to prepare a document titled “The Role of Faith in Combating Climate Change” with the aim of presenting it at international climate forums.
23. We call for responsible use of new technologies, including digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and bioengineering. The use of AI for discrimination, hostility, or undermining human dignity is unacceptable. We emphasize the need to develop international norms for AI usage based on human rights and ethical principles. We affirm that despite the progress in the development of AI, the capacity for genuine compassion and love remains exclusively human, and cultivating these qualities should become the foundation of humankind’s humanistic and spiritual-moral development.
24. We recommend exploring the possibility of developing a set of universal principles for the responsible use of artificial intelligence from the perspective of spiritual and moral values.
25. We call on the international community to uphold the aims and principles of the UN Charter, international law, and international security guarantees amid the contentious global agenda and geopolitical realities, which serve as the basis for international security and justice.
26. We support the call of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to establish a new global movement for peace to unite the efforts of those striving to overcome disagreement and conflict, build trust among peoples, and uphold ideals of peace and justice.
27. We intend to intensify the international dialogue on promoting the objectives of the global movement for peace and to conduct a series of international events — round tables, conferences, and side events — in partnership with other global and regional platforms, with a view to identifying effective ways to promote a culture of peace and harmony.
28. We propose actively promoting and implementing the ideas and objectives of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions within UN platforms and other international forums to strengthen global efforts in forming an inclusive and harmonious international community.
29. We call on the international community and the UN General Assembly to recognize the important role of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which for more than 20 years has actively promoted dialogue and accord among religions, contributing to strengthening peace and harmony. The Congress has made a significant contribution to shaping global interreligious dialogue and spiritual diplomacy based on mutual respect and cooperation.
30. We instruct the Secretariat of the Congress to develop a Roadmap for advancing and implementing the Declaration of the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, ensuring the practical realization of the outlined proposals and ideas at the international level together with forum partners.
31. We recommend that the Secretariat of the Congress establish an International Online Center of Spiritual Knowledge with an electronic library of texts and materials from the Congresses, speeches by participants and experts, as well as media projects reflecting the forum’s ideas and objectives.
32. We reaffirm our shared commitment to continuing the work of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and express our intention to hold the next, IX Congress in 2028 in the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana.
33. We once again recognize the Republic of Kazakhstan as an authoritative and global center for intercultural, interreligious, and interfaith dialogue.
34. We express our sincere gratitude to the Republic of Kazakhstan, to the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the people of Kazakhstan for convening the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, and for the high-quality organization of the event, as well as for their warmth and hospitality, which contributed to strengthening peace and harmony.
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This Declaration has been adopted by the majority of delegates of the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and is being forwarded to governments, political and religious leaders worldwide, international and regional organizations, civil society institutions, as well as religious associations and leading experts. It will also be disseminated as an official document during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
The principles contained in the Declaration may be applied at regional and international levels to be considered in all policy decisions, legislation, educational programs, and mass media in all interested countries.
MAY OUR PATH TOWARD UNITY, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY BE BLESSED!
PARTICIPANTS OF THE VIII CONGRESS OF THE LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS
REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
ASTANA
17–18 SEPTEMBER 2025
