Spirituality and Justice - Vienna International Centre UN, Austria

Spirituality and Justice Vienna International Centre UN, Austria, October 7, 2019 By Peter Haider also participated in the articulation of the however, is sticky. That stickiness fixes “Vienna Recommendations”. Prof. itself in the minds and hearts of people,

T he UN Office of Drugs and Crime Ismail Yasin shared his reflections on the and impacts human thought and action. (UNODC) on October 7th 2019 situation in Syria. Religion does not dwell in a private hosted a day long event on Dr. Michael Platzer from the UN Studies sphere set apart from life. It is part of the „Spirituality and Justice“ about Association and Dr. Elmar Kuhn from fabric of life. While it is prone to failings collaboration with Faith based the European Academy of Sciences and and corruption, like all human endeavors, Organizations (FBOs) at the Vienna Arts moderated the discussions of it also reaches the greatest heights of International Centre (United Nations) empathy and social justice, ethics and insight, wisdom and service. The and elswhere. It was opened by the good governance, humane treatment and universal aspiration for justice derives UNODC Director of Policy Analysis and resocialization of offenders, restorative from a moral insight, which has roots in Public Affairs, Dr. Jean Luc LeMahieu justice and victim assistance. Professor the world’s great religions. Believers, by and the Permanent Representative of Karin Bruckmueller made an and large, are justice seekers, called to Spain Ambassador Senen Floresa. impassioned plea for non judicial that mission by their scriptures and their Representatives from Austria, Russia, settlements with acknowledgement of founders. Justice cannot be achieved by Belarus, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican harm done to victims and and non penal the actions of governments alone. It Republic, Eritrea, Jordan, Lebanon, and community service. requires the participation of all sectors, Morocco also attended the four sessions. including academia, civil society, the Dr. Thomas Walsh, chair of UPF media and the arts, educational A list of potential topics for discussion International in a message to the was prepared by the Civil Society Team institutions, AND, indeed FBOs.“ conference thanked Dr. Platzer for being of UNODC. a never tiring activist and addressed the Prof. Azza Karam, the UN Co-ordinator The International Commission of topic „Spirituality and Justice“: of the Task Force for Engagement with Catholic Prison Pastoral Care distributed „Religion and spirituality have been Faith based Organizations delivered an pamphlets of “Basic Principles: Religion integrally related to human beings encouraging video message from New in Prison” and organized an international throughout all the ages. Among the many York, while Mr. Ibrahim Salama from exhibition of prison art at the United billions of people currently dwelling on the Office of the High Commissioner for Nations. Bishop Franz Scharl, who is this planet, the vast majority either Human Rights sent a positive message responsible for Catholic prison pastoral explicitly subscribe to a particular from Geneva to invite closer care, spoke at both UN and the evening religious tradition or have been collaboration between the two offices. event near St Stephen’s Cathedral. Imam profoundly shaped, perhaps without The Universal Peace Federation, the Dzemal Sibljakovic, the Muslim acknoledgement, by the ideas, images, Dominicans for Justice and the Women’s coordinator in prisons, Markus Fellinger, memes, symbols, and characteristics of Federation for World Peace played the Protestant chaplin and Mrs. religion. It’s death has often been important roles in organizing and getting Halbeisen from the Buddhist community prematurely predicted. Religion, important people to the events.