The Tripartite Partners,

Bearing in mind the recommendation of the Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace held at the United Nations headquarters on 22 June 2005, for the creation of a mechanism to follow up its conclusions and recommendations with an emphasis on practical actions, hereby decided to set up a Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace with the following Terms of Reference:

Nature

1. The Forum is a tripartite partnership of governments, concerned United Nations offices/agencies and civil society organizations duly accredited with the United Nations.

Mission

2. The Forum explores practical measures, utilizing interfaith dialogue and cooperation, to advance understanding between diverse peoples, their cultures and religions, in order to foster mutual respect, tolerance and friendship.

 Goal

3. The Tripartite Partners deliberate, on an open-ended basis, how interfaith dialogue and cooperation can contribute to effectively address opportunities and challenges to peaceful co-existence.  

Functions

4. The Forum, in cooperation with the United Nations wherever practicable, does the following:

• Tap available resources and abilities, and develop ways and means to affirm the role of interfaith and intercultural cooperation in attaining a just and sustainable peace through the mechanisms already available in the United Nations, such as the efforts to promote a Culture of Peace and a Dialogue among Civilizations.
• Identify new ways to address interfaith, intercultural and intercivilizational issues and concerns, including the opportunity and mechanism for religious leaders to speak, interact and respond more clearly and quickly in times of violence, crises and conflict.
• Encourage governments, in partnership with the United Nations system and civil society, to undertake practical actions in the fields of education, humanitarian assistance and the media, to foster understanding, tolerance and cooperation between peoples of different religions and beliefs so as to overcome intolerance and combat stereotypes and misperceptions, with particular reference to the Program of Action under the Global Agenda for the Dialogue among Civilizations3 and the work of the Alliance of Civilizations.
• Perform other related and relevant functions. 

 Guiding Principles 

5. The following principles guide the work of the Forum:

•  a.     More deliberate and strategic efforts in interfaith dialogue and cooperation are needed to foster relationships and interdependencies and advance understanding between diverse peoples, cultures and religions.
• Issues of peace and justice, human rights, religious freedom, poverty, education, sustainable development, the rights and well being of children, the equal dignity of men and women, indigenous peoples and the protection of the environment are our common concerns.  The partnership of governments, the UN and religious NGOs is of crucial significance in the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the millennium development goals. 
• Interreligious dialogue and cooperation are essential and can facilitate the work of enhancing human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere.
• Dialogue and understanding, including the awareness of differences and commonalities among peoples and civilizations contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes, and reduce the potential for animosity, clash and even violence.
• Non-governmental organizations representing different religions and multi-religious coalitions are an important part of civil society and have long supported the goals of the United Nations since its inception.

  Work Program  

6. The Tripartite Partners decide on the Forum’s projects and activities and their implementation.  The Tripartite Partners also consider cooperation and linkages with related initiatives and programs of relevant organizations.

New Tripartite Partners

 7.   The founding Tripartite Partners will invite governments, UN agencies and NGOs duly accredited with the UN as new partners or observers.

Decision-Making

8. Decisions will be arrived at by consensus of the Tripartite Partners. Participation in the implementation of a decision will be voluntary on the part of each Tripartite Partner.

Troika

9.          The Forum will be steered by a Troika composed of a representative each from governments, UN agencies and civil society.  The representative of the government chairs the Troika for a period of one year.  The Chair of the Troika manages the Forum’s secretariat, website and database. 

Finance

10. Partnership in the Forum does not require prior financial commitment. The Tripartite Partners may seek the assistance of donors, if necessary, in the implementation of agreed projects and activities on a case-by-case basis.  Adopted by the Tripartite Partners in New York City on 24 March 2006.

Adopted by the Tripartite Partners in New York City on 24 March 2006.