G20 Interfaith Forum 2018: Argentina

Rationale. Practical and ethical insights of global religious communities make substantial if often unrecognized contributions to priority global agendas. The annual G20 Interfaith Forum aims to build a network of networks of faith and interfaith leaders from around the world, together with non-governmental organizations and other policy leaders. Through three days of discussion and dialogue, the culmination of extensive prior consultations, participants highlight the roles that religious communities can play in promoting the goals of successive G20 Economic Summits. The Forums draw on the expertise of a range of opinion leaders, including political leaders, academics, lawyers, and civil society leaders.  

Objective. The Forum helps to identify and showcase the policy and societal contributions of faith traditions and philosophies on leading global issues. It creates opportunities for communication and relationship building, and raises the profile of participating communities, groups, and organizations. The aim is to develop recommendations on priority issues that draw on interfaith insight and experience. Particular attention is paid to ways that religious communities can contribute to the host country’s priorities. Thus, the agenda of the 2018 Forum reflected topics that the Argentine government had identified for this year’s G20 Summit and broader objectives of the continuing G20 Summit process. The long-term objective is to enhance the capacity of different groups to work together to strengthen human development, understood in the broadest sense. Dialogue and networking facilitated by the Forum aim to raise the level and effectiveness of religious input on major global policy issues with recommendations and action geared to the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a key outcome.

Forum Title and Theme

The overarching theme for the 2018 G20 Interfaith Forum was “Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development: Religious Contributions for a Dignified Future.” Over three days, presentations, panel discussions, and working group sessions aimed to build networks and develop concrete policy recommendations on the following sub-themes:

• Inequality, Religion, and the Future of Work
  • ​Accommodating Religion in the Workplace and Schools of the Future
  • Changing Women’s Roles to Reflect Equal Rights and Opportunities: Religious Debates and Action
  • Religious Perspectives on Innovation, Labor, and Education
• Religion, Environmental Change, and a Sustainable Food Future
  • Religious Contributions in Movements to Protect the Environment
  • Religion and the Fight against Hunger
  • Religious Action Regarding Extractive Industries 
• Urgent Priorities for Social Cohesion
  • Refugees, and Migration: Religious Insights and Action
  • Religious Perspectives and Action Regarding Violent Extremism, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding
  • The Role of Freedom of Religion or Belief: Practical Dimension 
• Religion, Good Governance and Sustainable Development
  • ​Sustainable Finance and Financial Inclusion
  • Debates and Action on Economic Policies including Financial Inclusion (Infrastructure)
  • Priorities for Equal Opportunities and Respect for Human Rights
  • Structural Inequalities and Development

The G20 Interfaith Forum Structure

The program in Buenos Aires ran from Wednesday 26 - Friday 28 September 2018 with more than 200 participants and attendees. The program consisted of presentations and panels drawing on leading expertise and global diversity. Simultaneous translation of all sessions was provided in English and Spanish. 

Ties to the overall G20 process are informal but the Argentinian G20 organizers displayed strong interest in the work emanating from the G20 Interfaith Forum initiatives, recognizing their potential to make a strong and independent, internationally-based contribution to the overall G20 process.

As in past years, several regional pre-meetings fed recommendations into the Forum and on to G20 leaders. Focused working groups are developing concrete policy recommendations around various G20 themes.

Forum organizers hope to work closely and synergistically with other developing programs and engagement groups in the G20 process.