The International Dialogue Centre - KAICIID participated in the 6th Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Forum in Abu Dhabi, UAE, under the theme “The Child is Calling: Interfaith Cooperation to Build a Hopeful World for Children.” This prestigious global event, convened by Arigatou International and hosted by the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities (IAFSC), took place from November 19–21, 2024. It brought together over 600 participants, including children, faith leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors. The GNRC, an initiative of Arigatou International, is the world’s largest interfaith network of individuals and organizations dedicated to securing the rights and well-being of children.

At the forum, KAICIID and Arigatou International renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 20, 2024. This renewal reinforces our shared mission to promote ethical values in education, advance interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and ensure the rights and well-being of children worldwide.

Arigatou International, a non-profit organization headquartered in Japan and established in 1990, has been at the forefront of mobilizing faith-based initiatives to secure children’s welfare globally. Together with KAICIID, the organizations drive transformative educational frameworks to empower children and educators from grassroots communities to global platforms.

KAICIID led a high-impact plenary group discussion titled “Collaborative Communities: Interfaith Dialogue and Action in Promoting a Safe World.” The session explored innovative approaches to:

• Protecting and promoting children’s rights.
• Utilizing transformative tools such as interfaith dialogue to address key challenges.
• Examining the significant role of religious leaders, faith communities, women’s initiatives, and media as catalysts for positive change in combating physical, mental, and virtual child abuse.
• Highlighting critical contributions from religious leaders, women’s empowerment initiatives, media, and digital experts.

H.E. Metropolitan Emmanuel moderated the session, emphasizing its aim to address the root causes of challenges faced by children today and identify actionable recommendations for families, communities, and faith groups to promote peace, justice, and safety for children across all societies.

Renewal of the KAICIID-Arigatou International MoU: A History of Impactful Partnership

The renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 6th GNRC Forum marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between KAICIID and Arigatou International. Since 2016, the two organizations have worked together through international platforms, such as the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) Steering Group and the Multi-Faith Advisory Council to the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development. Their joint efforts focus on interfaith engagement for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Milestone Initiatives

Since 2019, KAICIID and Arigatou International have strengthened interreligious and intercultural dialogue under their MoU. This collaboration has achieved several key milestones, including:

• The study “Faith and Children’s Rights: A Multi-Religious Study on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
• The Ethics Education Fellowship Programme, which builds capacity for ethics education among public officials.

Since 2022, the partnership expanded to include interfaith and intercultural learning through initiatives such as the Ethics Education Fellowship Programme. This collaboration has facilitated Arigatou’s participation in KAICIID platforms like the Network for Dialogue and the European Policy Dialogue Forum.

Focus on Ethics Education Fellowship Programme

A flagship initiative of the partnership, the Ethics Education Fellowship Programme equips educators with tools to integrate interreligious and intercultural dialogue into curricula. By fostering ethical values and dialogical skills, this program promotes:

• Social cohesion in diverse and conflict-prone regions.
• Empathy and resilience among children affected by crises.
• Global citizenship education, aligned with SDG Target 4.7.

KAICIID’s Global Vision for Interfaith Ethics Education

Building on its longstanding partnership with Arigatou International, KAICIID will enhance its efforts to implement the Abu Dhabi Declaration through the Ethics Education Fellowship. This reflects KAICIID’s commitment to SDG 4.7, which prioritizes global citizenship education to promote peace, tolerance, and cultural diversity.

Celebrating Collaboration with Arigatou International

The renewal of the MoU underscores KAICIID and Arigatou International’s shared commitment to advancing faith-based initiatives addressing children’s rights and well-being. Notable achievements include:

• The “Faith and Children’s Rights” consultation.
• The globally recognized Faith in Action for Children Campaign.

The renewed MoU further consolidates their joint mission to foster ethical values in education worldwide, ensuring children’s rights remain at the forefront of their collaborative efforts.