In Message to World Statesman Award Ceremony, Secretary-General Praises Foundation for Interfaith Work on Behalf of Religious Freedom, Mutual Understanding

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the Appeal of Conscience Foundation World Statesman Award Ceremony, in New York today:

On the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and on the eve of the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to address the UN General Assembly, I am delighted to convey my greetings to the fiftieth Anniversary Dinner of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation.

I thank my good friend Rabbi Arthur Schneier and all his colleagues for five decades of important interfaith work on behalf of religious freedom and mutual understanding.

You meet as world leaders prepare to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including an integrated set of 17 goals to guide us towards ending poverty and promoting shared prosperity on a healthy planet.

This is a time of continuing turmoil in too many countries, and suffering for too many members of the human family.  There are more refugees and displaced persons than at any time since the end of the Second World War.  Protracted conflicts, persistent poverty, patterns of discrimination, rising inequalities and the expanding impacts of climate change are generating instability and uncertainty.

We must address these challenges with the same sense of shared purpose that the UN’s founders displayed 70 years ago.  By working together, we can ease crises today while building the long-term pillars of peace, development and human rights.

The Appeal of Conscience Foundation will continue to be a valued partner in these efforts.  I congratulate tonight’s honourees and I look forward to the contributions you will continue to make to our shared work of building a world of peace and dignity for all.