Religion and Peacemaking

The Religion and Peacemaking program conducts research, identifies best practices, and develops new peacebuilding tools for religious leaders and organizations; helps define and shape the field of religious peacebuilding; and in cooperation with USIP's other Centers, develops and implements integrated strategies for the Institute's conflict-specific work, including projects with religious communities in zones of conflict.

David Smock is the associate vice president of the Religion and Peacemaking program.

• Pakistan - USIP is working with ulama and madrassa administrators in Pakistan to prepare teaching modules for madrassas on subjects relating to peace, tolerance, and pluralism.
• Afghanistan - Working with a local partner, USIP is building the conflict management skills of religious scholars in the Islamic tradition.
• Iran - As a means of promoting peace between our two countries and enhancing peacemaking skills, USIP is helping to organize exchanges between American Muslims and their Iranian counterparts.
• Darfur - Working with the Sudan Inter Religious Council, USIP is helping organize local peace committees in various parts of Darfur.
• Iraq - USIP is collaborating with the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East to encourage high level Iraqi religious leaders to use their influence to end sectarian violence in Iraq.
• Sri Lanka - Given the important role that Buddhist monks play in the religious and political life of Sri Lanka, USIP is helping the Sarvodaya movement to train monks in peacemaking skills.
• Northern Uganda - USIP has commissioned an Ethiopian expert on post-conflict reconciliation to advise Acholi religious leaders on how they can promote reconciliation in northern Uganda now that the war is winding down.

	Core Conflict Management Resources
	Religion and Peacemaking Resources

• Online Course on Interfaith Dialogue and Religious Peacemaking
  Religion and Peacemaking is helping develop an online training course on religious peacemaking.
• Curricular Material for Madrassas
  In Indonesia, USIP is working with local Islamic scholars and clergy to develop curricular materials that provide contemporary interpretations of Islamic texts on peace, violence, interfaith relations, human rights, the status of women, and the environment. Materials developed in Aceh have been piloted and embraced by local ulama. The materials are currently being translated into English and Arabic for dissemination to other countries.
• Islamic Reform
  In August 2006, USIP brought together Muslim scholars to discuss critical issues related to reform, conflict, peacemaking, and human rights. Papers written by the international group of Muslim scholars who participated in the conference are currently being turned into a book. The work reflects serious thinking and reflection on obstacles and opportunities in reforming Muslim attitudes in peace and conflict management.
• Religious Peacemaking in the Middle East
  USIP press recently published a book by prominent Muslim scholar Mohammed Abu-Nimer (currently a JR Senior Fellow) on interfaith dialogue and religious peacemaking in the Middle East. Abu-Nimer is now organizing a conference in Cairo with the religious peacemakers featured in the book. The purpose of the conference will be to increase peacemaking skills among religious actors and refine methodologies for evaluating religious peacemaking.
• Religious Peacemaking in Africa: Film and Workshops
  In collaboration with long-time partners at the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Nigeria, USIP is supporting the production of a documentary that will highlight the religious peacemaking methodology of Pastor Wuye and Imam Ashafa. This documentary will form the basis for workshops in countries throughout Africa to help develop strategic inter-religious peacemaking capacity.

• David Smock
  Vice President, Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution and Associate Vice President, Religion and Peacemaking
• Susan Hayward
  Program Officer
• Qamar-ul Huda
  Senior Program Officer

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