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HWPL, an international peace NGO, hosted the
International Religious Peace Academy (IRPA) on Friday, November 28, 2025
online, under the theme “Understanding Between Religions: The Path Toward
Harmony.”
The event was
held to promote conflict reduction and mutual understanding among religious
communities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with
participation from religious leaders and civil society members from the United
Arab Emirates and Ethiopia.
IRPA is an educational program operated by HWPL to
address misunderstandings among religions and establish a practical framework
for dialogue in regions where diverse religions coexist. The program focuses on
deriving shared values and applicable practices through scripture comparison
and open discussion. IRPA is structured to strengthen conflict mediation and
community-based peace education capabilities among religious leaders and youth.
The program consisted of presentations by
representatives of Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism on the topic of birth,
aging, illness, and death, followed by discussions comparing shared themes
among religions. Participants examined interpretations of life and death from
religious perspectives and reviewed principles of coexistence presented in
religious scriptures.
The MENA region continues to face complex
instability driven by sectarian tensions and geopolitical confrontation, and
the recent escalation of armed conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has
intensified distrust among religious communities in the region. Eastern Africa,
including Ethiopia, is also experiencing ongoing religious and ethnic conflicts
amid political instability. In this context, IRPA aims to establish a practical
framework for communication and dialogue between religious leaders to reduce misunderstanding
and prejudice.
Pastor Marcos A. Daka of the Ethiopian Church of
Jesus stated that “Establishing a cooperative structure based on mutual
understanding among religious leaders is important and the program provided
reference points for developing such collaboration.”
Blessen
Kairian, a member of Ajman Church in the United Arab Emirates, remarked “An
integrated network linking religion, politics, and civil society is necessary
in complex conflict environments and IRPA contributes to forming a practical
foundation for cooperation.”
HWPL is an international peace NGO registered under
the UN ECOSOC, operating IRPA with the objective of resolving misunderstandings
among religions and deriving peaceful agreements. HWPL will hold the
“Interfaith Peace Prayer Meeting” on December 6 and plans to continue follow-up
initiatives, including establishing annual education plans with regional
religious leaders, operating a regular IRPA curriculum, and organizing academic
forums that examine religious conflict cases.
