Representatives of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) joined some 7,000 participants representing diverse faith and religious backgrounds from across the globe at this year’s Parliament of the World’s Religions (see a summary video of the BIC’s engagement here).

Responding to the theme of this year’s conference, “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights,” BIC representatives explored the importance of a normative framework that recognizes the inherent dignity of the individual, and elaborates the rights and responsibilities upon which a peaceful society can be built.

In highlighting the importance of such a framework, Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the BIC, who spoke during the opening plenary of the conference, said that ideals of conscience, freedom, and human rights “are defined, in large part, by a sense of common purpose transcending one’s own concerns and interests.”

“In this regard, it seems only natural that the world’s great faith traditions have consistently advocated rights-based principles such as care for the sick, provision for the poor, liberation of the oppressed, and justice for the wronged,” Dugal said. “Beyond advocating admirable principles, religious communities, at their highest, have been instrumental in defining the parameters of what ideals such as justice, decency, and compassion mean in practice and look like in society.”

BIC Representative, Saphira Rameshfar, hosted a side event titled, “Humanity’s Transition From Adolescence to Maturity” featuring Counselor Nwandi Lawson, Dr Derik Smith, Nanabah Bulman and Dr Joy de Gruy. The panel explored the connection between human identity and contemporary notions of global citizenship, giving practical consideration to how growing recognition of our common humanity can be translated into practical adjustments to social structures, institutions of governance, and relationships between individuals and communities.

Panelists explored conceptions around identity and our place in the world as well as what it would take to build a shared sense of identity. The panelists also walked participants through a discussion around what a compelling vision for the future might look like if we are to conceive of humanity moving toward its collective maturity.

BIC Representative Saphira Rameshfar spoke on a panel titled “From Sharm-el-Sheikh to Dubai: Food Systems at the UN” to discuss the outcomes of COP 27 and explore how food systems will play a role at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).

“The world is in need of a food system that is sustainable, non-exploitative, and provides for the entirety of the global population,” said Ms. Rameshfar. 

“This will require not simply the application of new technology, but attention to the principles and assumptions underlying agricultural practice and policy from the local to the international level.” 

Among the diverse faiths and religions represented, the efforts of the BIC joined over 25 other events offered by the Baha’i community, including an opportunity where over 200 participants of the conference visited the Baha’i House of Worship of North America—with the role of prayer being intimately connected to action for the betterment of society.