Round Tables of Reconciliation:
An Initiative for Nonviolent Conflict Resolution and Global Peace Education

presented at the UNESCO Seminar on the Contributions of Religions to a Culture of Peace
Barcelona, Spain, April 13 - 18, 1993

I - International Round Tables

Imagine an inter-ethnic or inter-faith conflict occurring in your own country. It could be very difficult to bring together the leaders of dissenting religious groups, who may be embroiled. The first goal would therefore be to convene a temporary interfaith religious Round Table, sponsored by people from uninvolved nations. High-ranking representatives from different faiths, especially from those religions prominent in your country, would be invited to participate, acting as trusted counterparts to the leaders or warring factions within.

The process will be carried out through a series of immediate steps:

• Step One:
  Create an ad hoc "International Round Table" (IRT) of all concerned faiths and agree upon common interests in world peace and security, understanding the necessity of complete equality and mutual respect.
• Step Two:
  Identify and reconcile any possible internal differences among IRT representatives. It is likely that participating religious leaders, although from outside the conflict region, still have long-standing hostilities of their own. Hopefully the desire for global peace will be an effective incentive for getting over past difficulties. Also, experts in conflict resolution, nonviolence and mediation would be brought in. We already have people all over the world with the necessary proficiency ready to contribute their time and expertise. (see attachment for names and contacts).
• Step Three:
  Having established a working rapport, the IRT would invite religious heads from the problem area to participate. Together, they would form an International Religious Advisory Council (IRAC), which would offer a double benefit. It would take advantage of the rapport established among religious leaders outside your country during the IRT, and of the rapport already existing between co-believers, namely between the Catholics, Jews, Moslems or Hindus outside and within the conflict area. The IRAC would deal with problems utilizing the religious, nonviolent approach of its constituent members - in stark contrast to the political or military perspective of the United Nations Security Council. II - Regional/Local Round Tables