STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONGRESS OF LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS
On February 13, 2003, at the International Conference on Peace and Reconciliation, which played an important role in bringing religions, cultures and civilizations closer together, the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was initiated in Kazakhstan.
The worldwide recognition of the successes and trust in Kazakhstan's new initiatives is evidenced by the fact that the leaders of the USA, Russia, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Poland, Germany, and leaders of major international organizations sent their greetings to the Congress.
The First Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which took place in September 2003, was a unique event: for the first time, representatives of the entire religious world gathered at one table.
The significance of the first Congress is based on its conceptual idea – a dialogue between religions – an effective tool for resolving disputes and countering terrorism. The goal of the first congress was to find common guidelines in the world for the creation of a permanent international institution and ensuring interreligious dialogue and the adoption of coordinated decisions.
The First Congress ended with the adoption of a declaration in which spiritual leaders made statements on joint actions to ensure harmony and stability in societies as the basis for a harmonious world in the future. In addition, a decision was made to hold an interreligious forum on a regular basis - once every three years - and to create a permanent body for international and interfaith dialogue, the Secretariat of the Congress. Thus, the Congress attained the potential of a working dialogue platform for solving systemic problems.
The Second Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was held in September 2006, its work was carried out in two directions: "Freedom of Religion and Respect for Followers of Other Religions" and "The Role of Religious Leaders in Strengthening International Security". It was held in a new building, built especially for this event - the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. From the very first day of the Congress, a document entitled “Principles of Interreligious Dialogue” was adopted, containing the main components that guided the participants in their work. Moreover, a final document recognizing the role of religion in the modern world was adopted, aiming at strengthening the role and mission of the leaders of world and traditional religions in establishing a global order.
Participants of the Second Congress also adopted a joint declaration calling on representatives of all religions and ethnic groups to prevent conflicts based on cultural and religious differences.
The focus of the Third Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in July 2009, was the topic “The Role of Religious Leaders in Building a World of Tolerance, Mutual Respect and Cooperation,” where certain changes were made to the format of the congress. At this Congress, sectional sessions became innovations. At the end of the event, a final joint document was adopted calling on the world community to constantly support and promote the efforts of religious leaders and organizations to establish fruitful interreligious dialogue, to help maintain the dialogue of religions and civilizations.
The outcome of the Congress was the proposal to create a Council of Religious Leaders to ensure dialogue and cooperation with other international organizations, whose work is aimed at dialogue of cultures and economic cooperation.
In turn, the Fourth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions "Peace and Harmony as the Choice of Humanity" was held in May 2012, where the important role of religious leaders in strengthening the security of humanity, improving dialogue and mutual understanding was emphasized.
One of the most important initiatives of the Fourth Congress was the creation of an Internet resource within the framework of the G-Global unified electronic portal, dedicated to the formation and strengthening of global tolerance and trust.
"Dialogue between religious leaders and political figures for the sake of peace and development" was the theme of the Fifth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in June 2015.
One of the principles of the declaration, formulated by the participants of the Fifth Congress, was based on the call of the parties to military conflicts to stop clashes and, through negotiations, develop agreements on ending violence and protecting civilians.
In October 2018, expressing unanimous consent and focusing on the main theme of the Sixth Congress "Religious Leaders for a Safe World", the participants discussed issues of cultures and civilizations rapprochement, talked about global security and measures to combat extremism and terrorism.
The results of the Sixth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions showed that it is necessary to reach a new level of interaction. The Declaration of the participants of the Congress emphasized that all spiritual leaders need to appeal to the world community, people, and states with an appeal for peace and security.
To jointly implement the announced initiatives, the delegates of the Sixth Congress put forward a proposal to establish the N. Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue.
The focus of the discussion at the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in September 2022, was the topic "The role of leaders of world and traditional religions in the spiritual and social development of humanity in the post-pandemic period". The head of the Vatican and the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, Ahmed al-Tayeb the Sheikh of Al-Azhar University in Egypt, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Yitzhak Yosef the Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel and other religious figures spoke at the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a video address,
