Sadhviji Speaks at 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in Cascais, Portugal

Sadhviji was a participant and speaker at the 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in Cascais, Portugal on the 26-27 November which brought together prominent world leaders and dignitaries for Peace and to celebrate two decades of dialogue and cooperation. The event was also attended by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (Portugal), UN Secretary-General António Guterres, His Excellency Don Philippe (King of Spain), Turkish Foreign Minister Hákan Fidan, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNAOC High Representative Miguel Angel Moratinos, and several other former Presidents and Prime Ministers.

Sadhviji addressed two special sessions at the global forum: 1) the main plenary conference on the theme of Safeguarding Religious Sites, A Multi-stakeholder Approach. She gave a powerful address on the importance of our sacred sites.

“In the Hindu tradition, we are taught “Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti sanskriti” that means, that truth is one. The wise ones and sages call it by different names, which means that all of our religious sites are windows into the same infinite divine truth. Since time immemorial, humanity has built sacred sites as sanctuaries of peace, prayer, and divine connection. Their desecration is not just an assault on bricks and mortar; it is an assault on peace, unity, and identity.”

Sadhviji also spoke in a thematic session on “Faith in Dialogue: Religious Mediation for Peace,” in which she joined religious leaders of from around the world in speaking about the power and importance of religious mediation to prevent and end conflict.

Through this historic event, global leaders — political, religious, social leaders — reiterated their dedication to peace and harmony in society by ensuring the protection of religious sites, and restoring peace, trust and cooperation around the world.