Forum

II FORUM OF YOUNG RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Date: 18 September 2025

Venue: Astana, Kazakhstan (held as part of the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions)

Theme: “Youth for Peaceful Coexistence: Synergy for the Future”

Against the backdrop of growing polarization, religious intolerance and social divisions, participants noted that the role of youth as a driving force for a constructive agenda has acquired strategic importance. The Forum brought together approximately 200 participants from more than 20 foreign countries. Young religious and secular leaders, government and public figures, experts, scholars and representatives of youth organizations gathered on one platform.

The Forum was attended by delegations from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Tajikistan, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Israel, the Vatican, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Belarus, China, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, North Macedonia, Benin, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines and India. The religious diversity of the participants included Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto and the Bahá’í Faith.

The official opening of the Forum began with welcoming remarks by the Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. In his address, he emphasized the great responsibility of the younger generation for establishing peace and advancing dialogue, particularly highlighting the importance of following the principle of “building bridges, not walls”.

The programme featured discussion sessions and in-depth thematic debates. One of the new elements was the Forum-talks session, which, for the first time, employed an interactive audience engagement method using Mentimeter to facilitate active participation in the discussion.

The key issues on the agenda included:

The role of youth in strengthening peace, promoting interreligious dialogue and preventing conflicts.

The impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in the context of faith and ethics.

Contemporary environmental challenges and the responsibility of religious communities.

Ways to address global challenges through spiritual leadership and the transfer of experience from older generations to young people.

At the conclusion of the event, the draft final communiqué “Youth for Peaceful Coexistence”was presented. The document emphasizes the critical role of interfaith dialogue in addressing contemporary global challenges and reflects a commitment to the ideals of mutual understanding, compassion and solidarity among peoples and religions.

Following the Forum, participants reaffirmed their commitment to joining efforts to build a future based on the principles of tolerance, justice and cooperation. Particular emphasis was also placed on the importance of developing youth interreligious dialogue and on Kazakhstan’s significant role as an effective international platform fostering the development of an inclusive, peaceful and sustainable society and serving as an instrument of spiritual diplomacy.