The Interfaith Peace Platform has won an international peace award for its work to reconcile Muslims and Christians in the hope of restoring lasting peace in the Central African Republic (CAR).
The Sergio Vieira de Mello Award was presented to the Catholic Archbishop of Bangui, Mgr. Dieudonné Nzapalainga, the President of the Islamic Council, Imam Oumar Kobine Layama and the President of the Evangelical Alliance, Pastor Nicolas Guérékoyaméné-Gbangou on 19 August 2015 at a ceremony in Geneva.
The Interfaith Peace Platform was established in 2013 by representatives of the three most important religions in the country to promote dialogue as a preventive measure against religious violence. Conciliation Resources has supported the leaders by setting up an Interfaith Secretariat that gives technical assistance to the Interfaith Platform and by working in collaboration with the Secretariat staff.
The Interfaith Peace Platform serves as a model much needed in other countries in conflict and shows that prevention and dialogue are the key for solving refugee and displacement crises.
Laurent Vieira de Mello, President of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation
The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation was created following the death of the UN Secretary General representative during a bombing on the UN compound in Baghdad in 2003. The foundation attributes an award every two years to an individual, group or an organisation undertaking unique and special actions to reconcile people and parties in conflict.