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A seminar that will focus on the Declaration of Humanity and the role of faith leaders in preventing sexual violence in conflict
Background
The Declaration of Humanity focuses on the importance of the role of faith leaders and faith communities in highlighting violations that occur against women in conflict zones. It highlights the reality that over 80% of the world’s population sees itself as having some form of religion or belief, and that subsequently the place of religious teaching and accountability is one of great importance and influence.
While religion is often seen as a cause of conflict, this is one very clear example through which faithful and responsible leadership can transform social understanding on this matter and can present faith and belief as a real solution to a real problem, safeguarding those most vulnerable. The matter of returning survivors and their acceptance among their faith communities is also an incredibly important one that must be addressed, especially in relation to the stigma that follows and impacts survivors even after their traumatic experiences have come to an end.
Speaker’s bio
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos is the first Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, having served as General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom since 1999, and as a monk priest from 1995-1999. His Eminence was delegated by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, to represent the Church in the United Kingdom at the ecumenical and official level as Papal Legate, and thus conferred him with the ecclesial title of Archbishop of London.
Archbishop Angaelos is widely recognised for his extensive advocacy work, and as a result he was conferred the honour of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for ‘Services to International Religious Freedom.’ He specialises in initiatives relating to advocacy, international religious freedom and development work, and is a member of, and chairs, numerous local, national and international bodies dealing with these matters. He is founder and convener of the Asylum Advocacy Group, and works closely with the All Party Parliamentary Group on International Religious Freedom or Belief and is the Founder and Director of Refcemi, the Coptic Orthodox Church’s first Office for Advocacy and Public Policy. His Eminence was involved in the drafting of the Declaration of Humanity, an initiative led by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, and has taken part in the Protecting Sexual Violence in Conflict conferences in London.
He has visited refugee camps in Greece, Lebanon, Kurdistan and Jordan, and continues to work tirelessly to promote collaboration across the whole spectrum of his official, ecumenical and inter-religious engagements, to facilitate the support of and assistance to those in greatest need and suffering persecution and displacement.
Organisers
The talk is part of the SOAS Centre of World Christianity seminar series and is supported by Project dldl/ድልድል, a project working to respond to domestic violence in Ethiopia and the UK by means of faith-sensitive responses.
Event Recording
The event can be watched on the official YouTube channel of the SOAS Centre of World Christianity: