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Interfaith Alliance

Hate Crimes Regional Workshops

Overview

The Interfaith Alliance organized a series of regional workshops across six countries to spread awareness of the threats posed by online child sexual abuse and exploitation, and to identify actions that faith leaders can take to combat this menace.
 
The audience consisted of faith leaders at different levels of seniority. This has allowed for a more diverse discussion on the actions that faith leaders can take, and also for better results through immediate decision making.

The workshops were also attended by representatives from international organizations, NGOs and government agencies, both as speakers and participants. Their experience and knowledge enhanced the credibility of the messages being conveyed through the workshops to the faith leaders. They also actively engaged with faith leaders on the role that they can play in combatting OCSE.

During the workshops, faith leaders demonstrated limited awareness of the of the risks posed by online child sexual abuse and exploitation. They also had misconceptions regarding the nature of child sexual abuse (e.g. incidences of male child abuse, abusers being known to the victim, links between child abuse and homosexuality, it being a sin only if there is physical contact, etc.). 

Faith leaders also demonstrated an active interest in understanding and discussing how they can contribute to tackling this problem and gave us their support without any reservations after realizing seriousness and depth of the problem. They mentioned the importance of collaboration and partnership with other partners such law enforcement agencies and NGOs.

Locations 

Statistics

270+

Attendees from all over the world

7

Major Faiths

30+

Nationalities

Prominent Speakers / Attendees

Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome

Shariah Scholar

Professor Gamal Serour

Director, The International Islamic Center for Population Studies and Research at Al-Azhar University

Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali

Secretary General of the Global Network of Religions for Children, and Director of Arigatou International – Nairobi

Partners

The Interfaith Alliance is only possible with the help of our partners:

Media Gallery

Attendees at the regional workshop in Abu Dhabi

Christian, Muslim and Sikh faith leaders at the regional workshop in Abu Dhabi

Attendees at the regional workshop in Abu Dhabi

Attendees at the regional workshop in Abu Dhabi

Attendees at the regional workshop in Cairo

Attendees at the regional workshop in Manila

Attendees at the regional workshop in Manila

Attendees at the regional workshop in Manila

Attendees at the regional workshop in Manila

Attendees at the regional workshop in Nairobi

Attendees at the regional workshop in New Delhi

Dr Vinu Aram (Director, Shanti Ashram) addressing the New Delhi workshop

His Holiness Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji (Abbot and The Head of Sri Puthige Matha) addressing the New Delhi workshop

Swami Atmapriyananda (Vice Chancellor of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University) addressing the New Delhi workshop

His Eminence Giambattista Diquattro (Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal) addressing the New Delhi workshop

Dr A K Merchant (National Bahai Assembly) addressing the New Delhi workshop

Workshop attendees pay their respects at Raj Ghat in New Delhi on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi