Multi-Religious Council of Leaders
The Multi-Religious Council of Leaders, brought together by UNHCR and Religions for Peace, strengthens collective efforts across regions and faiths to address root causes by supporting global advocacy, conflict prevention, reconciliation, peacebuilding and social cohesion initiatives.
Read the Religious Leaders Statement from the 2023 Global Refugee Forum
The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) describes faith-based actors and organizations as contributors to good relations and peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities. It emphasizes their potential role in addressing root causes through supporting conflict prevention, reconciliation, peacebuilding and social cohesion.
The GCR aims to strengthen the international response to large movements of refugees and protracted refugee situations. It recognizes faith leaders and faith-based organizations as contributors to good relations and peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities.
Members of the Multi-Religious Council of Leaders commit to mobilizing action for refugees, asylum seekers, stateless and internally displaced people addressing root causes of forced displacement, and facilitating the meaningful participation of forcibly displaced women and girls in peacebuilding processes.
“As wars, conflict, and persecution continue to force people to flee their homes, we seek the support of faith leaders and their communities. They are key in not only standing with and supporting refugees during their displacement but in addressing the root causes that gave rise to their flight.” UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi
Religions for Peace is a key UNHCR partner in strengthening commitments from religious leaders, faith representatives and institutions. Religions for Peace is the largest religious leadership coalition representing all the world’s faith traditions through inter-religious platforms at regional and country/national levels.
Members of the Council
The Council comprises 20 religious and spiritual leaders, and their mandate extends until the third Global Refugee Forum in 2027, where they will present progress on pledges made at the 2023 GRF and seek further commitments to action from a broader range of religious actors and institutions.
Members of the Council were identified based on having served as strong advocates for conflict prevention, reconciliation and peacebuilding in humanitarian and forced displacement contexts.