Uniting for peace
World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February, since the General Assembly designation in 2010. The General Assembly pointed out that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and established World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.
Recognizing the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people, the General Assembly encourages all States to spread the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during that week, on a voluntary basis and according to their own religious traditions or convictions.
Origin and history
World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), conceived to promote a culture peace and nonviolence, was first proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan at the United Nations in 2010. This was quickly adopted by the UN General Assembly (resolution A/RES/65/5), declaring the first week of February each year as World Interfaith Harmony week, calling on governments, institutions and civil society to observe it with various programs and initiatives that would promote the aim of the WIHW objectives.
2023
Future pandemics and natural catastrophic events are likely to continue, adversely impacting the health and wellbeing of peoples. These stressors will continue accentuating already-existing inequities, unless addressed with urgency. Find out more about the topic explored this year, under the theme “Harmony in a world in crisis“.
2022
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which upended all assumptions of life on earth, causing never-before faced challenges worldwide, the observance of the Week took place through a virtual meeting. In 2022 the Permanent Missions of Sierra Leone, Canada, Morocco, The Holy See and the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, together with the UNSRC Enlightenment Society and partners sponsored a conversation focusing on “Faith and spiritual leadership to combat stigma and conflict during pandemic recovery”.
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