MEDIA OUTREACH  
ON INTERFAITH AND INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE  
“FOSTERING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING”  
Statement by Dr. Lawrence Owoyemi, Director, Triple-D Foundation,

The Gambia.  
BANJUL, 20 OCTOBER, 2021.

 
Good morning, Highly Esteemed Journalists, Invited Guests, Ladies, and Gentlemen.  
As we gather here today to engage the media and other relevant entities, I want to convey a special greeting on behalf of the Foundation for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Initiatives (FIIDI) in Sierra Leone and their volunteer Fund Development and Communications team in Canada, and Triple-D Foundation to the people of our beloved nation, The Gambia. On 22 August 2019, the world celebrated the first International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. The Day was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly on the 28th of May 2019 by resolution A/RES/73/xx. The International Day aims to honor the victims and survivors of religious violence who often remain forgotten around the world. Therefore, today we are here to compliment the efforts of many organizations and individuals like FIIDI who continue to contribute efforts to mitigate (and one day end) religious violence in our communities around the world. The path to promoting religious tolerance in our communities is not an easy one but with commitment and perseverance we see hope in bringing communities together to live in dignity and in dialogue.   
FIIDI and Triple-D Foundation remain committed at all levels, to promote intercultural and interreligious understanding and to empower communities in peacebuilding activities that contribute to living together in dignity and dialogue. Today, I am happy to share with you that FIIDI has supported this Media Outreach to engage the media in fostering community engagement and understanding that promotes religious and cultural tolerance in our beloved nation, The Gambia. This commitment amplifies our awareness (education) based approach to address and prevent religious and ethnic violence affecting the communities we serve.  
A key dimension of the partnership between FIIDI & Triple-D Foundation relates to promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue and giving communities the opportunity to take ownership of our initiatives. We underscore the important role played by religious and cultural as well as youth leaders in either fueling or mitigating violence at the community level. There has been an alarming spike in recent years in hate speech and incitement to violence against individuals or communities, based on their identity. Awareness creation and capacity building in our various institutions and communities on such issues is another form of our contribution as partners to complement the existing efforts of the state to promote peace and fulfill the development aspiration of our nation.  
 
Freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to freedom of association are interdependent, interrelated, and mutually reinforcing. They are enshrined in articles 18, 19, and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Upholding these rights plays an important role in the fight against all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief. Moreover, the Gambian Constitution also prohibits any discrimination based on religion. Chapter IV, section 34 outlines protection from discrimination and defines discrimination.  
There are continuing acts of intolerance and violence based on religion or belief against individuals, including against persons belonging to religious communities and religious minorities in Africa and around the world. The number and intensity of such incidents, which are often of a criminal nature and may have international characteristics, are increasing. Fortunately, The Gambia is renowned for religious tolerance where Muslims and Christians collaborate and interact with each other peacefully. Religious violence is very rare in our country. Even with the estimated 95.7 percent of the population being Muslim, 4.2 percent Christians, and 1 percent of other religious groups; minority communities are rarely targeted because of their religion. I say “Bravo” to the people of The Gambia for this great achievement.

 
According to Pew, in 2018 more than a quarter of the world's countries experienced a high incidence of hostilities motivated by religious hatred, mob violence related to religion, terrorism, and harassment of women for violating religious codes. In the same vein, a 2018 Minority Rights Group report indicates that mass killings and other atrocities are increasing in war-torn and stable countries alike. Bloody encounters were recorded in over 50 countries. The reported deadly incidents involving minorities were concentrated in Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. As partners, we look forward to working with state and non-state actors to find attainable solutions to address symptoms as well as end such acts of violence in Africa.

 
I would like to conclude on a high note; key organizations including the Foundation for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Initiatives (FIIDI), the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), the World Council of Churches, and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers are making great strides as promoters of religious tolerance and remain strong contributors to global peace. I am encouraged to see these like-minded organizations actively taking an indispensable role in building peaceful and stable communities around the world. The efforts of these organizations are generating new strategies and recommendations such as the “Plan of Action for Religious Leaders from Africa to Prevent Incitement to Violence that Could Lead to Atrocity Crimes”.

 
At this point, I wish to extend our sincere and thoughtful appreciation to the Foundation for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Initiatives (FIIDI) for funding Triple-D Foundation to organize the Media Outreach in The Gambia.     
So, let us stand up and applaud the achievements of others and commit ourselves today to promote peace, security, and sustainable development for a better future. Please join me in this commitment and invite all Gambians in the fight against acts of violence based on religion or belief.  
I thank you all!

  
Dr. Lawrence Owoyemi  

Director Triple-D Foundation