The Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace[1], held at the UN headquarters in New York on 22 June 2005, recommended, inter alia, the creation of an open-ended consultative group composed of representatives of UN Member States, the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations.  The Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace (TFICP) was founded on the basis of this recommendation.  The mission, goal, functions, guiding principles and other features of the Tripartite Forum are set out in its Terms of Reference.

The Forum is a partnership of governments, UN agencies and civil society organizations that sets the Forum into motion.  The uniqueness of the Forum lies in its pioneering tripartite cooperation.  

The partnership, while working outside the UN mantle, is supportive of UN programs relating to peaceful co-existence.   

Participation in the Forum is open-ended and, for this purpose, prospective partners are invited to join the tripartite partnership, in keeping with the principles of inclusiveness and universality. 

The Forum’s mission statement defines the secular nature of the partnership, which leaves discussion of theological issues to other forums of religious experts.  

The activities of the Forum are mutually reinforcing and inclusive of related initiatives and programs of the United Nations and governments, inter-governmental organizations and other organizations, designed to foster mutual respect, tolerance and friendship between peoples, cultures and religions. 

The focus of the Forum’s activities will be on practical measures to create a value added to the abundant rhetoric on interfaith dialogue and cooperation for peace. 

Participation in the activities of the Forum is voluntary on the part of the Tripartite Partners and does not entail prior financial commitments.   

There will be a periodic review of the Terms of Reference of the Forum by the Tripartite Partners to enhance the Forum’s performance.