Transformation toward Action-driven Organization
ACRP/RfP Asia Executive Committee Held in Osaka
Details of the Tokyo Assembly 2020 Confirmed

Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP / Religions for Peace =RfP Asia) convened its Executive Committee (EC) meeting in Osaka, Japan for two days in April. About 100 religious leaders from 19 countries in the Asian region participated in the first ever EC meeting took place in Japan.

The participants discussed various issues in three categories: the governance of ACRP, the management of the organization, and the ongoing projects. The guided principle for the entire discussion was to transform ACRP to an action-driven organization.

In this context, details of the preparatory processes of the 9th Assembly of ACRP were discussed and confirmed. With “Asian Religious Communities in Action: Moving Towards an Inclusive, Peaceful Asia” being the main theme, the 9th Assembly will be held in Tokyo on 14-16 October, 2020 in Tokyo. It was also confirmed that the number of the participants in the Assembly shall be limited to around 300, as it is necessary to make itself a “working” session as a whole, because of the number of significant issues to be dealt with. They constitute discussions of the amendment to the Constitution of ACRP, on the further developments on major projects, as well as the selection of new Executive Committee members, among other things. It was stressed further that the opening ceremony will would accommodate some 400 to 500 participants. It was also decided that a Youth Pre Assembly would be held on 11-13 October and a Women Pre Assembly would be held on 13 October.

The Executive Committee meeting approved proposed amendments to the Constitution of the ACRP after an intensive discussion among national representatives, almost as presented. The approved amendment will be adopted on the first day of the 9th Assembly, and the Assembly will be proceeded in accordance with the provisions contained in the newly amended Constitution henceforth. The main points of the amendments are 1) abolition of the Governing Board, which is an organ to be convened just prior to the opening of the Assembly, which is held once every five years, 2) creation of an Advisory Committee which will consists of the Moderator, Deputy Moderator and the Secretary General of ACRP and outside religious leaders and experts, and 3) establishment of the Asian Trustees to promote financial stability of the organization.

In a session to examine what kind of project ACRP shall undertake, a document titled “ACRP Flagship Projects – Its Clarifications and Implementations” was provided for a constructive discussion. The document indicated four areas in which ACRP shall work on. They were: 1) Human trafficking 2) Dignity of women and children 3) Peace and reconciliation between North and South Korea, and Bangladesh and Myanmar 4) Environment and development. The promotion of the youth leadership was added as the fifth flagship project by the session participants.

It became clear through the lively discussion at the session that some national chapters were already dealing with challenges in those areas. Asia-Pacific Women of Faith Network (APWFN) as well as the national chapters in Indonesia and Philippines are tackling with human trafficking. The Nepali chapter is working on the dignity of women and children. Youth in the Philippine chapter are actively involved in the protection of mangrove trees.

It is worth mentioning that national chapter executives share the determination to contribute to the peace and stability of the Asian region through their activities in such projects. Also the remarkable was their wish to report substantial outcomes in the Tokyo Assembly to make further progress.

The Executive Committee meeting also decided to adopt an action plan at the forthcoming Assembly to draw a clear roadmap from the Tokyo Assembly to the 10th Assembly.

The Executive Committee meeting had observers from East Timor (Timor-Leste). The Executive Committee members welcomed the two representatives, who were a Christian and a Muslim in the island nation and encouraged them to join ACRP as a new chapter. The observers from East Timor expressed their willingness to start an official application for the membership. East Timor is expected to become the 22nd chapter of ACRP next year in Tokyo.