Global Leaders in Peace and Religious Harmony to Address Key Challenges Facing Social Cohesion

The International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS), taking place 19-21 June 2019 in Singapore, announced its line-up of speakers today. The ICCS will provide a platform for global leaders from academia, government, religious organisations, and civil society groups to address key challenges that are widening divides within societies across the globe.

Speakers include bestselling British author on comparative religion, Ms Karen Armstrong OBE; FRSL; United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Senior Advisor on social and cultural development, Dr Azza Karam; former white supremacist turned peace activist, Mr Christian Picciolini; former Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Lord John Thomas Alderdice; and President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot.

Designed as a high-level dialogue focused on promoting social cohesion and inter-religious harmony, the ICCS will be opened by President Halimah Yacob of Singapore on 19 June at the Raffles City Convention Centre. His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will deliver the Keynote Address on 20 June.

As countries around the world face a crisis of social trust, understanding, and harmony, the ICCS seeks to build bridges, explore practical solutions, and drive collective action through open dialogue and mutual learning. The ICCS will draw on the diverse experiences and unique perspectives of the speakers, who will speak on issues related to Faith, Identity, and Cohesion over three plenary sessions and six breakout sessions.

To resolve conflicts that come to the fore along religious or ethnic lines, and to prevent them in the first place, constructive interactions with those who are different from us are integral so that communities can cultivate a common space, where people can live peacefully alongside one another.” Dr Paul Hedges, Associate Professor in Interreligious Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), and speaker at the ICCS.

The speakers will be joined by around 700 international delegates, who will discuss how the urgent challenges facing social cohesion around the world can be addressed, including the interactions between religion and technology, the rehabilitation and reintegration of radicalised individuals, and the effectiveness of global peacebuilding efforts.

The ICCS is organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), with the support of Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.