wfn.org | World Conference on Religious Freedom in India

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

October 30, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

World Conference on Religious Freedom to be Held at New 
Delhi/india

New Delhi, India. (APD)     The International Religious 
Liberty Association (IRLA) will host a world conference 
on religious freedom at New Delhi from November 16 -18, 
1999. The conference will highlight the theme: "Religious 
Freedom: A Fundamental Right in the 21st Century". 
300 delegates from several countries and all states of 
India are expected to attend the conference. Several 
well-known personalities will address the delegates 
during the three-day conference to be held at Hotel Le 
Meridian in the heart of India's capital. Dr Manmohan Singh, 
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, will inaugurate the 
conference at 10:00 am on November 16. Heads and 
representatives of various religious and voluntary 
organisations are likely to attend.

The convenor of the conference is Dr John Graz, secretary 
general, IRLA. The organising secretary is Dr Justus Devadas, 
director of the Department of Religious Liberty, Southern Asia 
Division of Seventh-day Adventists.

The International Religious Liberty Association chartered 
in 1893, has advocated the cause of a religious freedom for 
105 years in various parts of the world. The purpose of 
IRLA is non-sectarian and its activities are non-political. 
IRLA has a branch United Nations Liaison office in New York 
(USA) and is represented at the UN Human Rights Commission 
in Geneva (Switzerland). Various religious organisations 
are represented on the Board of Directors. The presidency 
rotates annually among a panel of vice presidents. 
The incumbent president is Gunnar Staalsett, Bishop of Oslo, 
and a member of the Nobel Peace prize committee. 

It was in 1997 at the Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) session of 
the world congress of IRLA that a decision was made to 
hold the next world conference at New Delhi in recognition 
of India's long-standing and respected tradition of 
religious tolerance and freedom. In 1986 a regional IRLA 
religious liberty congress was already held in New Delhi.

While the conference will seek to highlight and reaffirm the 
freedom of religion and conscience, the discussions and 
deliberations are quite likely to focus on the restriction of 
this fundamental right in certain parts of the world. 
The stated objective of all IRLA conferences is to create 
a congenial and harmonious relationship between adherents 
of various faiths in various countries of the world and to 
develop healthy respect for the freedom of conscience of 
every individual. It is in the interest of both state and 
religion to keep political power separate from the 
profession and practice of religion. The conference in 
Delhi should lead to greater harmony among the religions 
and religious organisation in the world. An interesting 
part of the conference will be the "Children of India", 
a cultural pageant presented by school children.

For more information please contact Dr Justus Devadas, 
Organizing Secretary, World Conference on Religious 
Freedom, c/o Southern Asia Division of Seventh-day 
Adventists, Post Box #2, HCF Hosur 635 110, India; 
Tel 04344-22170,71,72 Email: sudrelib@blr.vsnl.net.in

(Note to the Editor: A Press Conference will be held on 
November 15, 1999, from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., at Hotel 
Centerpoint, 13 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 110001; 
Tel  Hotel: 3354304 - 08; Local Office:  3329681, 3324959)