For many individuals recruited to extremist groups, religion is a major factor. Violent extremist groups have been known to distort and exploit religion and faith to promote radicalisation and attempt to legitimise their beliefs and actions. At the same time, religion is often central to the social, cultural, and moral fabric of communities and faith-based organizations (FBOs) and religious leaders are often the sources of information, trust and influence. As such, UNDP builds religious actors’, including women of faith, capacity to promote social cohesion, tolerance, dialogue, and non-violence, at the same time enhance their role as insider mediators.

22

COUNTRIES

supported by UNDP to enhance religion & faith-based dialogues

>650

RELIGIOUS LEADERS

engaged to foster community acceptance towards returnees & people perceived as associated with them

~1600

FAITH-BASED ACTORS

consisting of different religions, sects and ethnicities engaged in promoting tolerance & peace by UNDP-facilitated peace dialogues, fora and roundtables

UNDP is on several international platforms that highlight the role of religion in peacebuilding:  

  • UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Development 

  • Founding member of the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) (and also serving in the UN Advisory Group to PaRD). 

  • In the Core and Advisory Group of The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemarkers’  

  • The Global Steering Committee for the Implementation of the Plan of Action for Religious Leaders and Actors to Prevent Incitement to Violence that Could Lead to Atrocity Crimes