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G20 INTERFAITH SUMMIT,

TOKYO, JAPAN

7^th June 2019

EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO A CHILDHOOD

Theme: “Protecting and Nurturing Children in Today’s Challenging World: Actions worthy of the 30^th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”

The Secretary General, GNRC, Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, joined other leaders from across the world for the Sixth Annual G20 Interfaith Forum in Tokyo, Japan on 7^th – 10^th June 2019, in which the theme, “Peace, People, Planet: Pathways Forward,” was discussed. The forum convened two thousand (2,000) global religious, political, humanitarian, academic leaders and policy experts to discuss global sustainable development issues whose recommendations will be submitted to the G20 Summit.

On 30^th May 2019, the President of Kenya, H.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta joined Muslim faith leaders, representatives of faith-based organizations and government officials in advocating for peace and coexistence among people of different religions during an Iftar meeting organized by Jamia Mosque Nairobi. The President was accompanied by the Prime Minister of Yemen, H.E Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, Cabinet Secretaries; Hon. Najib Balala, CS for Tourism, Hon. Eugene Wamalwa, CS for Devolution, Nairobi Governor, Hon. Michael Mbuvi and National Assembly Majority Leader Hon. Aden Duale. The Secretary General of the Global Network of Religions of Children (GNRC) and Director Arigatou International, Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, and Arigatou International Advisory Group Member, Sh. Ibrahim Lethome, were also invited to the event.

The Secretary General of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) and Member of the UN Faith Advisory Council, Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, joined senior representatives of national and local governments, civil society and NGOs, business leaders, academics, experts and other United Nations agencies to explore innovative ways to address urban sustainable development during the first UN-Habitat Assembly held at the UN Habitat headquarters in Nairobi on 29^th May 2019.

On 20^th May 2019, the Secretary General, Dr. Ali attended a Round table Meeting of twenty five (25) sheikhs, selected from different parts of the country at Nairobi, Kenya. This was done during an Iftar dinner that brought together Muslim leaders and government officials. The purpose of the Roundtable meeting was to discuss the involvement of religious leaders and community engagement in Countering Violent Extremism that will complement the government efforts in enhancing security in Kenya.

Following the unfortunate series of suicide bombings on Easter Sunday this year, in which at least 250 people were killed, Sri Lanka experienced a wave of anti-Muslim riots that swept the island in apparent retaliation of the attack, claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) group. Communities now live in fear after the attacks. As a response, the GNRC committee in Sri Lanka was convened by Walpola Rahula Institute, a member of the GNRC on 20^th May 2019 in Colombo, to discuss the on-going religious and ethnic conflicts in the country and seek solutions to restore peace.